Well I've obviously been a little MIA lately & there's an obvious reason: I've overstressed myself into exhaustion. I'll tell you all about it: Thursday I had the day off & went to the doctor. I have been getting migraines and nasty headaches daily for at least a month (Bill claims 10+ months) and wasn't quite sure the reason so I figured it was about time I had it checked out. I thought it might be a sinus infection but once my doc had a look at me he knew we were traveling down an all-too-familar path. He poked and prodded and humored me with sinus pressure tests but the moment he touched the base of my neck I shuddered in pain.
"Ah ha!" he exclaimed. "There's your headache source." Once again, I've been diagnosed with tension headaches. This is something I've been through before but somehow they always come back - probably because old habits die hard and I'm the best person I know at over-scheduling myself and wearing myself entirely too thin.
He prescribed me with some heavy-duty pain-killers & a muscle relaxer that will knock your socks off and suggested I spend the Holidays laying low. Thursday night I took one pain killer & a muscle relaxer two hours later. Bill said I was the goofiest I had ever been, but I wasn't uncomfortable anymore! So I definitely liked this prescription. Friday morning (Christmas Eve) I drove to my parents and then took one of each pill with lunch. A few hours later I was stumbling over my words, sweating, shaking, and somewhere between conscious and unconscious..soon to be followed by the nastiest thing imaginable (starts with "v" and ends with "omiting"). Merry Flipping Christmas.
Christmas Day I decided no more meds, just need to get myself healthy with some relaxation which seemed to work, until it didn't anymore & the headache was back full-force. This was when I decided it's time to make some changes to my lifestyle.
So here it is, my list of How I Plan to Make 2011 Great (in no particular order):
- Detach from my iPhone: I've discovered "Words with Friends" game for iPhone & become strangely addicted. It's like Scrabble, and at both my parent's and Bill's, every family member was playing one another at every moment of the day when we could have been conversing...Bill's mom asked us a few times to put our phones away but within a matter of an hour or less someone would bring their iPhone back out & start another marathon of "Words". This is pathetic, and family time is important. In 2011, I hope to detach from my iPhone, even if only a little.
- Start weekly Yoga classes: Based on my current health situation, it's quite obvious that it's time for a change. I've been reading magazines all day and they all basically are saying the same thing: Yoga = Less stress in your life. I am all-in for that. It's going to take a bit of budgeting, but my health is more important than anything & it's time to let my body be the best it can be. In 2011, I will take part in weekly yoga sessions, because my mind and body require it.
- Make time for me: As previously mentioned, I am the best person I know at over-scheduling myself and wearing myself entirely too thin. I'm constantly buzzing from here to there & everywhere and although this new year of 2011 I will be getting married and starting a life as "Mrs.", I think now more than ever it's essential that I set boundaries and give myself time to think, relax, read, meditate, pamper, etc. Selfish as it sounds, I just don't think I take enough time to do things I want and need to do. In 2011, I will make time for me, because I deserve it.
- Moisturize: As simple as it seems, I always cut moisturizing out of my daily routine. I have full intentions to do so, as I lather up in the shower I think "I really need to moisturize when I get out..." but when it comes time to commit and lotion, I always think "Tomorrow. I will moisturize tomorrow." This has rubbed off onto many other important daily rituals and generally speaking, I've become hygienically lazy. In 2011, I will moisturize and find ways to inspire myself for better hygiene.
- Take baths: A new little thing I've found particularly luxurious is taking a bath. I've always seen in shows & movies that baths are such a wonderful thing but never appreciated them. I asked for some great bath products for Christmas and was fortunate enough to receive them, so in 2011, I will start taking baths because they will relax my overactive lifestyle.
- Buy myself comfy clothes: Bill helped me realize this, although I'm sure he didn't intend to at all. For Christmas he got me the cutest, most comfortable eco-fleece sweater dress and I've been wearing it with a pair of leggings all day. Not only am I warm and comfy, but I feel adorable. I've become entirely too hung-up in the "What Not To Wear" complex and I've stopped wearing things that make me feel good and keep me comfortable, I always just wear things that are trendy & stylish. In 2011, I will buy myself comfy clothes.
- Keep up with mani's: There's something exquisitely feminine about manicured nails, so in 2011, I will keep up with my own manicures.
- More kisses: Bill and I live together, but we seem to always just see each other in passing. In 2011, I will give him more kisses, because he is wonderful and deserves my undying love.
- Read more: A few weeks ago I bought myself "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" for my Sony eReader & I haven't gotten more than 4 chapters in. I love reading and it's also a stress-reducer so in 2011, I plan to read more because everyone needs to get wrapped up in a good story.
- Say "Thank You": Writing thank you notes is one of my favorite things to do. Every time I'm at HomeGoods & see a stack of "thank you" stationary on sale, I snatch them up. In 2011, I will be more grateful and say thank you, because everyone deserves to be told how wonderful their gifts are, even if it's the gift of love.
- Stop driving so much: There's only so much I can do for this one, because Jimmy (my horse) is 23 miles from the condo and I miss him deeply if I don't see him every few days but I know one of the times I stress out the most is driving from here or there. In 2011 I will do what I can to minimize my driving and maximize my relaxation.
- Say NO sometimes: I am a constant "Yes!" person. When someone asks me to go out, or Bill suggests we meet such & such for drinks, I always just say yes. In 2011, I am going to start saying "No" sometimes, because as I said above, it's time I took a little time for me.
- Wear Make-Up: This ties back with that hygiene thing. Somewhere along the lines I've gotten overwhelmingly lazy with myself. I see pictures in magazines that if I saw them a year ago I'd say, "I did that make up on myself last night!" and now I say "I wish I looked like her". In 2011, I will make an effort and wear make-up more, even though Bill tells me I don't need it ;-)
- Try something different: This I haven't really decided about yet. It might be a new hair style (I am going to get my hair cut Wednesday....hmm.....) or a new car....or, I'm not sure what. Whatever it is, I know in 2011 I will try something (probably MANY things) different, and I know I'll love it, whatever it is.
- Take lots of deep breaths: For those who don't know, I teach horseback riding lessons & the first thing I always tell my students when they get on a horse is to "Take a big, deep yoga breath" Ironic, no? Since I don't do yoga OR practice deep breathing myself? In 2011, I plan on taking nice deep breaths throughout the day and a moment to just chill out here & there.
- Be effortless: I'm always trying so hard to please everyone, I don't appreciate who I am anymore. I'm always dressing for this occasion, or trying to impress that client, or pushing myself to be better and better and better when sometimes, I just need to stop & smell the roses. In 2011, I will try to be effortless and let my style happen, let mistakes be made, and let problems solve themselves. I do not need to make everyone happy, I do need to make myself happy.
- Get massages: Getting massages is one of life's little pleasures that no one can take away from you. They feel so good it's almost sinful & yet I never make time for them. Bill said this to me after I told him the doctor's diagnosis for my headaches and I need to follow through, "Take time & go get massages". In 2011, I will follow Bill's advice and get massages.
- Listen: Part of my constant multi-tasking complex has become "half-listening"....if I "half-listen" I can still keep doing what I'm doing while the person speaking to me thinks I care what they are saying. This is coming back to bite me when "What did I tell you to put on the grocery list last night?" and "Did you send me the e-mail I asked for this morning?" questions are asked. In 2011, I will set down what I'm doing because IT CAN WAIT while I take time to listen.
1 comment:
White Flower Oil (embrocation.50webs.com) was introduced to me by my mother. During one of my headaches, she gave me this tiny bottle of oil and told me to massage it on my temples and forehead. Amazingly, it worked! Somehow the oil penetrates into the affected area and relieves the pain.
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