1. Treat Yourself!
Wake-Up, Get to Work, Work, Pick-Up Son, Dinner, Bath, Sleep - REPEAT
Sometimes, the predictability of routine is exhausting. Each day passes and nothing much has really happened, no special memories made or story to tell. Sometimes you need a treat. This week, I tried to treat myself to something each day. I took my son out to dinner one night, we baked some delicious banana bread together another and post-bedtime, I watched Pitch Perfect with a glass of wine; I even bought a fancy exfoliating shower gel for some at-home spa time!
Sometimes, the predictability of routine is exhausting. Each day passes and nothing much has really happened, no special memories made or story to tell. Sometimes you need a treat. This week, I tried to treat myself to something each day. I took my son out to dinner one night, we baked some delicious banana bread together another and post-bedtime, I watched Pitch Perfect with a glass of wine; I even bought a fancy exfoliating shower gel for some at-home spa time!
2. Get moving!
Every article I read about fighting exhaustion recommends exercising. While I have had bouts of fitness success, I struggle in the long term. One of my challenges is comparing my start to someone else's finish. People run marathons and practice yoga what seems like 24/7. I wake up and check my email and social media to find that while I rub sleep out of my eyes, my Facebook friends have already completed a five mile run. No, at the moment I can't run five miles, and especially not at 6 AM, but I sure can walk around the block or up to the park (pictures below of Myki and I's mini-hike) or even just do some jumping jacks, high knees and push-ups with my four year old.
3. Make a list and check it twice!
Rarely is exhaustion just about a lack of sleep or something physical. A bad case of the sleepies can be caused by stress, anxiety, overwhelmedness or simply having too much to do! Write it out - write down everything that is causing these emotions and every errand you need to complete or project you need to think through. There is much truth to the saying, "you can't have it all." Take a look at the list and prioritize. What is most important and what is manageable? I once read a LinkedIn article on the trick of To Do lists that suggested for each day, you make a list of one large task, three medium level tasks and five small tasks. That is the guideline for a workday. I propose adjusting that as a personal guide for the week. For example, this week, I will complete:
Large
1. Resume Job - I have a small resume "business" and have one client this week who needs a winning Federal resume!
Medium
1. Thoughtful Blog Post
2. Chapter Letters - I currently serve as national Director of Expansion for my sorority and owe two chapters an update on various projects
3. Laundry is mostly done, but I have some folding, hanging and putting away to do.
Small
1. Daily writing/coloring exercise with Myki
2. Breakfast of Champions - I'm trying to address my diet one meal at a time. This week's task is to master a healthy breakfast.
3. Resume Evaluations - I have two clients in the wings and need to touch base with them
4. One cooking project with Myki - measurement, following directions, doing someone other than TV together and celebrating with a yummy treat afterward!
5. Read a Chapter of The Secrets to Happy Families, a book I've been trying to get through for months and one my husband and I are trying to implement in our family.
4. You Time!
In a fast-paced world with countless responsibilities, exhaustion can be more about mental energy than anything else. Your brain is literally tired of always being in motion. Do you have something you do to clear your mind? My brain is so busy, I find meditation and yoga exhausting; it is just so hard to clear my thoughts and then I beat myself up for "failing" at something that is supposed to be helpful. But a nice long shower or some beautification (at-home manicure, salon, massage) always does the trick. A good book or writing session has also been known to work. I have a girlfriend who is super crafty, always crocheting or knitting something. Find what works for you and make some time for it!
5. Sleep!
Then again, sometimes you just need a nap. Maybe you've been unable to sleep or burning the midnight oil on a project one too many nights in a row. Conventional wisdom recommends a minimum of six hours of sleep a night, but it is also important to know what your body needs. Personally, I need more like eight to be fully functioning so sometimes, I just need to go to sleep at 8:30 PM to make up for a few too-late nights or too-early mornings in a row.
In a fast-paced world with countless responsibilities, exhaustion can be more about mental energy than anything else. Your brain is literally tired of always being in motion. Do you have something you do to clear your mind? My brain is so busy, I find meditation and yoga exhausting; it is just so hard to clear my thoughts and then I beat myself up for "failing" at something that is supposed to be helpful. But a nice long shower or some beautification (at-home manicure, salon, massage) always does the trick. A good book or writing session has also been known to work. I have a girlfriend who is super crafty, always crocheting or knitting something. Find what works for you and make some time for it!
5. Sleep!
Then again, sometimes you just need a nap. Maybe you've been unable to sleep or burning the midnight oil on a project one too many nights in a row. Conventional wisdom recommends a minimum of six hours of sleep a night, but it is also important to know what your body needs. Personally, I need more like eight to be fully functioning so sometimes, I just need to go to sleep at 8:30 PM to make up for a few too-late nights or too-early mornings in a row.
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