Been silent for a couple of weeks, because I had nothing to give. Learning my job was going in-person again along with other job changes, and coupled with the atrocious acts against Asian Americans, started a mental decline. I have enjoyed being isolated and at home the last year. I contemplated quitting work. Fortunately, I’m not the breadwinner and I work to help others, which gives me purpose (beyond raising my own three). It’s a good balance since I cannot teach my own children, but other children enjoy working with me. Yesterday, a third-grader commented on how I’m her favorite teacher. Another student asked to make our sessions longer. This was a student, who would barely show up to class early on. I agreed, even though it cuts into my lunch break.
What do you do when you’re feeling down?
Number 1. Refill your cup. In this case, it’s the giving and receiving positivity that fills you with good feelings. Fill your cup means replenishing those stores of mental, emotional, and physical energy. It means that you need to stop and recharge your batteries.
I took a mini-vacation with my girls in hopes to reconnect off of electronics. Put the television away again (so there’s no temptation to watch endless amounts of streaming content). Rather, I am trying to read a book for enjoyment (a rarity, since I don’t enjoy reading) and spend time reconnecting with whichever child is open to it. I have teenagers and a tween, who are growing up and away from me.
Number 2, practice self-care. I gained about 10% weight over a year. The holiday season from Halloween to New Years’ was a detriment to my health. I love sweets and am sensitive to gluten and dairy, however, I kept craving and devouring till the point of mental sickness, memory loss, brain fog, and poor health. Even my bloodwork demonstrated the diet changes.
So I vowed to get back on the bandwagon and cook healthy meals with lots of vegetables again. After a few weeks of better diet choices, things have improved and I am feeling better.
Also, increased exercise and am dancing again. Lots of Zumba, strength training, and a little yoga. Been practicing meditation using a neurofeedback device, which helps immensely with focus. Am getting out in nature more.
Increased sleep too, added another supplement which has done wonders.
Number 3, take a break. I took a little break from household chores, to do’s and writing and thinking about learning differences, focusing more on enjoying what I have and the people who surround me. It’s easy to forget the blessings unless you purposely think about them.
It’s a lot of work to stay on a positive and happier path. I too have learning and thinking differences that impact me daily. So far, I’ve adapted without medication. Making good lifestyle choices is challenging, especially when you’re caring for difficult children and struggling with your own neurosis. Sometimes you just want to grab that chocolate bar or bag of chocolate chips and escape. I tend to do that a lot.