In preparation for my trial week for my new job, I spent my Saturday:
- baking a date loaf and dozen cupcakes, shopping for easy lunchbox-fillers and quick dinners, washing school uniforms and everything else in the house, packing away (into very high cupboards) all of the freshly washed winter sheets and blankets, washing a few day’s worth of pent-up dishes and generally scrubbing the kitchen within an inch of its (or my) life, hanging aforementioned bundreds of loads of washing then taking it in and folding, cleaning out wardrobes and banishing the heavy winter wear, reorganising the family whiteboard (it hangs in the kitchen and tells us what to do each day), organising babysitters during work shifts, making to-do lists for the entire week and probably a bunch of other stuff that I have forgotten to mention / blocked out due to trauma.
By the time I went to bed I was hurting and feeling nauseas and Trusty returned from South Africa to find a tired and grumpy girl on the other end of the phone. I was exhausted but had a very restless night feeling sick and hurty and anxious.
So this is why I am now spending my Sunday feeling quite literally sore and sorry. No matter how much I constantly remind myself of the importance of rest and pacing, the temptation to go overboard when I have the energy is irresistible. Now the energy is sadly all gone and all I have to show for it is a ruined body and lots of very clean laundry and easily assembled food items for the week ahead. Today I have been sporadically attempting to finish my weekend to-do list, doing short bursts followed by a lie down on my bed. Mowing the lawn is most definitely out of the question.
Am I even the same girl I was yesterday? The difference is staggering. Just showering exhausted me today. I’m currently sipping at peppermint tea to settle my stomach, have deep heat applied to my sore-est of muscles and am trying to recover without taking any painkillers. I am tempted to sleep yet scared of putting my body-clock out of whack in the lead up to my early starts at work. I’m implementing all of the deep breathing and stretching and distraction techniques I can muster in order to ward off anxiety.
Fingers crossed, positive thoughts, prayers or whatever it takes to wake up tomorrow feeling rested and renewed. m
