I've been putting this off because it's rather a long story and I just haven't had time to go into a long story. Today I decided this had gone on long enough, and a short story was better than no story. After all, it's nearly November!
If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I work in education, so after a lovely, lazy summer, I went back to work in mid-August. It is quite an adjustment to go from no schedule other what time tennis lessons are or when we want to be at the pool to work commutes and deadlines, after school activities four nights a week and others on Saturday.
In previous years it's taken me a few weeks to adjust, as it does with most people, but there have never been any lasting effects. This year, unfortunately, I cannot say that and I am convinced that the additional stress of my schedule was what put the situation over the edge.
I started out the year taking food to work to have a late breakfast rather than eating at home. After I finished a stress-filled work, (I only work part-time) I had one hour, minus my 30 minute commute, to go home, fix lunch, eat it and be back in the car to be at my child's school for dismissal time.
When I planned this, it sounded quite do-able. I liked the idea of leaving 30 minutes sooner and not having to pack a lunch for the lunch break I'd never taken anyway. I also liked the idea of having a freshly cooked lunch at home instead of something in a lunch bag.
I really thought it was working, too. That is until I started noticing subtle changes. About the third week I got sick and it took ages to shake it. I was exhausted in the afternoons, but couldn't stay asleep at night. And even though I was more active now that I was back at work, and actually eating less, my clothes were getting tight. I weighed myself and found - get this - I'd gained 8 pounds. Eight! This is a significant amount for anyone to gain in one month, but considering I have not gained any weight in 10 years, for me this was monumental. Clearly my body was not happy at all with the recent changes in my life. What else could that be, but my 'wonderful' new schedule?
So I changed it. I started eating breakfast at home again. I packed a lunch and ate while I worked. Not ideal, but I no longer had a scheduled lunch break. I could have asked to have one added back in, but even when I did have one I always worked during it, so chances are eventually I'd do the same again.
I also decided that this extra half hour could be a good work-to-home transition time for me. Since I didn't have to rush home to fix and eat lunch I now had a more leisurely commute home. I took less congested roads and enjoyed the scenery more. I'd stop on the way home to shop which meant one less task for me to fit into my schedule later. Some days I'd go for a walk, or just arrive early at the school and sit in the sunshine and read...or even snooze in the sun.
Another change I had to make was how and what I ate. Going so long without eating then eating quickly was an additional stress that my body did not need. I changed to an eating schedule recommended by my doctor of four-meals-a-day as well as something before going to bed to stop the 3 am waking. I'm also being even more diligent about what those meals are, making sure that the foods I eat will promote good health and stress-recovery.
It's been nearly three weeks since I started making these changes and I'm noticing improvements. I am sleeping most of the night, and I can make it through the afternoon without falling asleep. My thinking is clearer and I can focus better. I've also lost two of the pounds I gained.
It's not over, yet. But I feel less pressured, less overwhelmed..just...better. I think part of it is knowing that I'm doing something positive - taking action. Sometimes things can't be fixed, sometimes they can but they are difficult. But this one was relatively easy once I realized it needed to be fixed. And life's too short to put up things that are so simple to fix.
What do you know? It turned into a long story after all.
