I Need A Minute

I Think I Need a Reset

I haven’t written a blog post in a little while, and I think I finally realized why. I need a minute.

The past few weeks have been busy. Between work, school, finishing up my bachelor’s degree, working a few different jobs, nurse coaching, and trying to keep up with regular life, I realized today that I’m getting dangerously close to falling behind.

And if you know me, you know that is not like me.

Usually, I’m the person who sits down and gets a week (or sometimes more) of schoolwork done in one sitting. This semester has been different than what I have been used too...

Every professor seems to have their own very specific requirements, assignments are structured differently, and I feel like I spend half my time figuring out what I’m supposed to be doing before I can actually do it. And these are just upper electives!

So I procrastinate. Then I get annoyed with myself because I’m procrastinating. Then suddenly I have even more to do.

Great system.

But school isn't the only place where I've noticed things slipping.

I've Fallen Into the Convenience Trap

My eating lately has been not great.

I know how to eat well. I know how to meal prep. I know how much better I feel when I'm eating real, nourishing food. I literally help other people work on these things through nurse coaching.... And yet here I am grabbing something quick because I'm running from one thing to another.

It's usually more expensive, less nutritious, and half the time not even that satisfying. Meanwhile, I have a kitchen at home and could probably prepare several grab-and-go meals for what I'm spending buying food throughout the week. I know better.

But knowing better and having the mental energy to do better are two completely different things.

And I think that's an important distinction, especially when we talk about wellness.

And Then There's My Sleep...

My sleep has been horrible.

I desperately need new pillows, but finding a pillow I actually like has somehow become one of life's greatest challenges.

I'm also a belly sleeper, which is doing absolutely nothing for me. My shoulders are tense, my upper back and neck hurt, and now I'm noticing wrinkles underneath my eyes from smashing my face into my pillow every night.

Wonderful.

I can buy all the eye cream and face lotion I want, but I'm pretty sure none of it is going to undo eight hours of aggressively pressing my face into a pillow 🙃

So apparently "figure out how to sleep like a normal person" has officially been added to my wellness goals.

Trying to Be Everything to Everyone

The biggest realization is that I am trying to be everything at once.

I want to be a good wife, good daughter, good stepmom, good friend, good employee, good student, good nurse coach.

Somewhere in the middle of trying to show up for everyone and everything, I've been doing a pretty poor job of showing up for myself.

That's hard to admit when so much of what I believe and what I teach through nurse coaching is about taking care of yourself, but I am human and go through these phases like a lot of others do.

Being knowledgeable about wellness doesn't make you immune to becoming overwhelmed. Being a nurse doesn't mean you always take perfect care of yourself. Being a nurse coach doesn't mean every meal is healthy, every workout happens, you're asleep by 9 p.m., and your life is perfectly balanced.

Sometimes you realize you've gotten off track.

The important part is what you do when you notice.

Reset 💆‍♀️

I don't need a complete life overhaul, I just need to get my priorities straight again.

Meal prep some easy food that I can actually grab before work, sit down and organize my assignments instead of letting them float around in my brain all day, move my body because I need it, figure out this pillow situation, prioritize sleep.

Spend time with my husband and family without mentally going through everything I should be doing, and occasionally say, "No, not today."

I just need a minute!

Not quit or give up on my goals or abandon everything I'm working toward. Just pause long enough to figure out what actually needs my attention and what can wait.

So that's where I'm at right now.

Finishing my bachelor's. Working. Nurse coaching. Trying to take care of the people I love. Trying to take care of myself. Trying to remember what assignment is due on what day. And apparently shopping for pillows.

One thing at a time.

Maybe you need a reset, too.

Join me? 🍁 🍂