Who run this world?
Moms. And we’re tired!
We all need a Mommy Time-Out once in a while, And that’s okay! Especially if you’re a chronically ill Mama.
Mommy Time-Out: And So It Begins
I’m horrible at taking breaks and listening to my body, which is extra annoying, because I’ve lived with chronic illness for well over a decade now, and should know better.
I had big “new year, new me” plans for this weekend.
I was going to work long hours, because business goals! I was going to Marie Kondo my entire house in a day. I was going to maybe get through my ginormous pile of laundry. There was going to be some major quality time spent with my daughter. I was going to hit another PR in spin…
But then my body was like, “You and your unrealistic goals are crazy. Hold my coffee…” That’s how an unwanted Mommy Time-out happened.
I woke up Friday morning and couldn’t move. Stress paralyzes people, but thanks to fibromyalgia and a few other illnesses I coexist with, stress literally locks my joints and muscles.
I was so stiff and in so much pain that after I saw my daughter off to school, all I could do was take my medicine and hobble back to bed.
The Key To The Mommy Time-Out: Prioritize. No, Seriously
How much of your To-Do list is urgent? I can tell you right now a good chunk of my list can wait most weeks. Why do we do this to ourselves?
I reviewed my list while getting way too intimate with my heating pad, Jared (yes, he has a name because he’s pretty much my boyfriend).
There were a few things that had to be done, so I took care of them first, from my phone and laptop.
I made sure that I took breaks. More like, my body made sure, because the brain fog was real, and pushing myself was pointless. I mean, how many times can one person dial the same phone number incorrectly? (15 times. That’s how many).
The laundry could and had to wait. We had clean clothes for the next day or two.
By that point I was like, “Marie, who? I don’t need organization. Squares are dumb.” Flare Kristen thinks Goal-Setter Kristen is insane.
I also knew I could still spend some good time with my daughter, letting her slaughter me at Uno and Connect 4, and drawing together.
All in all, it wound up being a pretty quiet day with all of my clients (I really lucked out) and a marathon of that final, weird season of Roseanne was on as an added bonus. What better way to amuse a foggy, pain-addled brain?
I re-prioritized what had to be done, and spread it out into a more manageable (read as “realistic”) schedule to work through over the weekend, and finally let up on the guilt enough that I could somewhat relax.
The Mommy Time Out Pays For Itself
We invest so much of our energy into the people around us. As moms, it’s what we do.
Initially I felt really guilty, and like a failure, for taking unplanned time off. Once I worked through that, I was able to appreciate the fact that I invested a day and a half into myself.
My flare lessened in severity over the weekend. I felt rested, and my mind cleared itself, so I was ready for Monday and my fresh week to be amazing.
A mommy time out made me more productive for my clients, and a better mom to my little girl.
Mommy Time-Out: You Have To Make Time For Yourself!
Life keeps us running all over the place, Accomplishing Things, because we Have To.
We are made to feel guilty for spending time or money on ourselves. But… we’re the Moms, right? So don’t we make the rules?!
We should be Oprahing the heck out of Mommy Time-Outs to each other!
Beyoncé didn’t lie, we all know we run this motha …but we need to make sure we aren’t actually running this motha into the ground, doing it all.
The post Mommy Time-Outs Need To Be A Thing, Especially If You’re Chronically Ill appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.
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