I feel better when I make an effort, which is rare.
One Sunday evening, after making dinner for a house full of people, I looked in the mirror and realized that I needed to treat myself better.
I needed to treat myself the way I treat the people in this house, making sure they are fed, clean, and happy.
Instead, I feel like the complete opposite. There’s always food on my shirt, my hair is always messy, and I just don’t feel good.
I feel good about taking care of everyone else, but I don’t feel good about myself.
So, what do I do?
I’ve read countless articles about how you should keep yourself looking your best, no matter how hard life gets.
Well, lately, as you all know, and I won’t be a downer about the “thing” again, I haven’t felt like there was a reason to keep myself looking nice.
Not having an income for 10 months has made me re-evaluate what we can do for ourselves.
No more $100 hair salon appointments, no more $50 manis and pedis, and no more randomly spending money on clothes just because I think they’re cute.
These days, we are going to thrift stores or making what we already have work.
Now, how do I make an effort for myself with less?
By focusing on the things I can control.
I can control how my hair looks, what I’m consuming, and how much exercise I can get done in 30 minutes.
In the past, when I heard the word “effort,” I thought it meant buying expensive clothes, wearing makeup, which I gave up six years ago, and looking like I had stepped out of a magazine.
But now, I know it simply means taking care of yourself the best way you can with the resources you have.
Exercising
Keeping myself in shape is one of the things I procrastinate on the most, right after neatly doing my hair.
In the past, I would run, participate in boot camps, skate, and walk around until I was simply tired of walking.
Now, I find myself sitting in my mother-in-law’s basement, glued to my computer, searching for jobs and blogging.
We have access to a treadmill, which I’ve tried using a few times, but it’s not the same as walking outside and getting some vitamin D.
See what I did there? I made an excuse.
There is a treadmill, and I should use it. These are the excuses I make up in my head because doing almost anything else sounds so much better.
This is the option I have right now, and I am in control of how I use it to exercise.
Skating used to be one of my favorite forms of exercise. It helped me lose most of the weight I gained during the pandemic.
Unfortunately, my skates are in a storage unit across the country, and going to a rink is out of the question.
Almost $20 for one skating session?! INFLATION!! 🙂
One thing I have found enjoyable, and something I can do inside at any time, is Just Dance on the Nintendo Switch. I never thought I would enjoy the game console we purchased for our kiddos for Christmas as much as I do.
The game tracks my calories and gives me an enjoyable way to exercise. It comes with a ton of songs, but I purchased the extended version so I could access some of my favorite millennial songs from earlier versions of the game.
My goal is six songs max, which gives me an amazing workout and some fun, quality time with the kids.
Managing Stress
I wish I had something magical to say about managing stress, but I am still struggling with this part.
Listening to music, dancing, and trying not to get stuck in my head with negative thoughts are the main ways I have learned to manage it.
Spending time with loved ones who are supportive and not draining also helps. There is something about receiving support from the people you love and trust that can help you get through some of the most challenging times in your life.
Stress has become a huge part of my life lately, and while I’m trying to find ways to manage it, I also need some of the things causing the stress to finally calm down.
Keeping Myself Up
Earlier, I mentioned making an effort with the resources you have.
I may not have the financial resources right now, but I do have time.
I can spend some of that time taking care of my hair, my body, and my peace of mind.
These are the things I CAN control.
What is something you focus on when life starts to feel overwhelming? I’m still figuring this out myself, so I’d truly love to hear what helps you.
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