Last night I did not feel good – as the evening went on I started aching all over and had chills so bad I was shivering. I was able to breastfeed my son before bed, but after that I just collapsed. And, instead of setting my alarm for the usual time, I set it for 90 minutes later. Typically, I get up early, before anyone else, so I can exercise, blog, and take some time to myself. As much as I love some “me” time, I chose to give that up this morning because I knew that rest would be the better option.
I have learned over the years that skipping sleep, especially when you are not feeling well, is a step on the road to disaster. For me, my body will make me pay until I finally submit and get some extra rest. In fact, it’s always amazing to me that my body seems to be very good at making me slow down when it needs to recharge and regroup. Fighting my body is futile. So, instead of waiting until my tank is running on empty, I am trying to be more proactive about getting some rest and slowing down. And, while I hate thinking that I am not getting things done so I can rest, I know that in the long run I will be better off for doing so.
How about you? Even when you know you need the rest, do you try to power through because there is too much to do? Do you make the conscious decision to rest, or do you wait until you are really sick? I encourage everyone to listen more to your body and give yourself the rest it needs. Easier said than done I know, but I know I am way better this morning than I would have been without the extra 90 minutes of rest. Make sure you are giving yourself the space to have some down time, and you may find that you can actually be more productive including it in your life.