Greetings everyone! It’s been a long time since I’ve composed an actual blog entry. I’ve been utilizing this space to write show notes and provide links for the guests of my podcasts, but not actually taking my thoughts and putting them into words as was the original intention of this blog. We all have to have a “fail list.” The first things to go when it gets busy. Well, for me, the blog was on this “fail list.”
The summer and fall were incredibly busy with kids, farm, football, soccer, podcast, among other things. So, naturally, something had to go. I hope now that things are freeing up for just a few months, I can get back in the habit of writing more.
This morning something happened to me that used to would have driven me nuts. For the past several months, it’s been my normal routine to wake up daily at 4 am, write in my journal, read my scriptures, pray, and meditate before I head off to run or workout at the gym. Per usual, my alarm went off at 4 and I just didn’t feel right. I felt like I should still be resting. Normally, I would’ve done one of two things. 1) Powered through with some extra caffeine and went ahead with my day, being pretty miserable throughout… or 2) went back to bed, laid there until the last minute before I had to get to work, missed my workout, and be kind of pissy for the rest of the day.
Neither of those things happened this morning. Instead, I set a timer on my phone for 45 minutes, laid back down, and got a little bit of extra rest. I woke up, went to the gym and got a 40 minute treadmill workout in, then went on to work. It’s true I did not get everything done that I wouldve liked to this morning. But I still did get some of it done. Most importantly, I got a workout in. That is the number one thing that sets the tone for my day. I KNOW if I don’t get that in, the rest of my day is not going to be great.
It goes back to having that fail list. Now I did journal when I got to work. I did listen to scriptures in the car on the way to the gym. I knew I would be able to be flexible with those things. I also KNEW if I didn’t get that extra rest, I wouldn’t be at my best for the day. One of the most important things I’ve been able to do over the past few months is be able to listen to my body. I was fully aware that I needed to take that extra time today.
It’s a challenge to get where we need to be to listen to our body. I’ve abused my body for lots of years. Society often teaches us that we are to wear ourselves out to be successful. It’s true that hard work is important and essential to success… but it mustn’t be the only thing that makes us successful. Rest, breaks, gratitude also play pivotal roles in being our best selves. It is a paradigm challenge for sure but one that will change us for the better.
What have you done to take better care of your body? What are the things that are essential to your health and what things can you be flexible on? I want to hear from you.
This weekend I will be running my second ever half-marathon. It’s not an event like normal but just a group of friends that are going to run together. Yet another reason for my needed rest today!
I hope to be utilizing this space for writing more going forward. Thanks for all the support for all the things we do here at Ag State of Mind!!
I recently started running more consistently again to take better care of my body. Sleep is one thing I have learned, I can’t slack on! When I’ve tried “cutting out” some of my sleep, I learned it makes me very snippy and lacking in patience. Most definately not the person I want to be or that embodies Christ, so I’ve learned the work will wait and be better accomplished if I go to bed.