A Step in the Right Direction
Posted on January 29 2021
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The month of January has always been about new beginnings, starting new regimes, dry January get fit, and eat healthily. Blah blah blah.
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This year is no exception, compounded by the heavy cloud of Covid adding overwhelming pressure to our daily lives and routines. Kitchen tables are school desks, bedrooms have become offices, bathrooms are sanctuaries for important telephone calls, and if you’re lucky a bit of me time.
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For others living on their own whatever size of space you’re in can become cavernous or closed in, one of my favourite movies is Shirley Valentine when she talks to inanimate objects like the wall or a rock, and we are all dreaming of escaping to our own version of a Greek island.
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The strap line of 2021 - “it is what it is”, as we all try and put a brave face on things, knowing there are people worse off than ourselves. We really shouldn’t complain, but that thought adds it’s own pressure, it doesn’t help us to move forward with our own difficult situations.
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Women are natural multitaskers we can do a million things at once, and our headspace just gets filled up with a list of priorities - but where do we put us in that list? I would hazard a guess at the bottom. After a difficult period in my life, I have been forced to take January to reflect. I have been overwhelmed and humbled by my amazing family and friends who have been kind and patient with me, offering pearls of wisdom and golden nuggets of advice.
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The main theme of this advice is to give yourself time, and begin to put yourself first at some point in the day, do something for you. It’s not easy to face, and there is always an excuse not to do something. Personally, I am not as fit as I would like - historically I have found it difficult find motivation to workout after spending all day on my feet. The diet was always starting next week. However last week I started by dragging out my sports legging, Lycra tops and of course my sports bra. It’s step towards taking some time to myself, moving my body in a kind and gentle way, and elevating some of the lockdown-induced brain fog. Perhaps it only starts with a walk, but it’s one step in right direction.
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