This week’s Tuesday Topic is a FREE topic. Feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to link up with Jenn and Zenaida! Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier! Remember to come back for later linkers!
My word for 2023 was Balance. I found these suggestions to help me find and have some balance in my life. Let me tell you how I did.
• Build healthy self-esteem
• Receive as well as receive
• Create positive parenting and family relationships
• Make friends who count
• Figure out your priorities
• Get involved
• Learn to manage stress effectively
• Cope with changes that affect you
• Deal with your emotions
• Have a spirituality to call your own
I think I did OK. The main thing I wanted to do was find balance with work. Once I did that, the rest would fall into place. The way I saw it, the less time I spent on work, the more time I would have for the rest. Right? I am always very busy at the beginning of the school year. This school year was awful because there were many changes. Of course, we never get enough time to do all of the work that is required.
As much as I complain about school, I care a lot about the students and their families. I became more involved in after school activities. My coworker and I helped set up a few monthly Family Nights which were a hit. It made me happy to see students and their families have fun. But, it was a lot of work. We didn’t organize an event in January nor will we organize the one in February.
I am handling my stress better. I did have to tell my doctor and she gave me medicine to help with my anxiety. I know they’re not the same thing but in my case they seem to go hand in hand. I learned to go with the flow with my mother. She is 80 years old and taking care of an elderly is a lot of work. Thanks goodness my sisters and I share this responsibility.
The topic for next week – Confession time: What are your worst running habits? Feel free to write about this or any running-related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!
You did a great job at finding more balance, Zenaida!
I also think it was good that you talked about it with your doctor. I have a friend who is on medication to deal with her anxiety (she said they were actually anti-depressants) and the change is remarkable.
Is there any way you could reduce your work to something more part-time, like 80%?
Thanks, Catrina. I am trying to reduce my workload but sometimes it is not possible. What I am doing though (and I realize it is a whole different point) is anything extra I will do as long as I get paid for it.
I’m glad you are working on managing your stress. It is an ongoing struggle for me too. Running and working out helps a lot.
It is helping. Thank goodness for running!
I think you are doing great. I know how stressful teaching is. And taking care of your mom?
Glad to see you are finding balance.
What a perfect word.
You are reminding me to think about my word and apply it to my life.
It’s been rough but doing the best I can.
You have a lot on your plate. Managing stress is not an easy thing to do! But it sounds like you are taking steps and working toward managing it the best you can.
The family nights sound like fun, but yes, I can imagine that is a lot of work on top of all of the other things you have going on. And I am in the same boat with anxiety and managing stress! I actually stopped taking it a couple of years ago and things snuck back up on me slowly. I finally went back to my doctor and we decided I needed to start back and it has made all of the difference in the world. That along with my running and workouts really helps me manage stress.
I am glad you have your sisters to help with your mom. My sister and I both took care of my mom when she passed from cancer. She wanted to be at home, so that was a lot, but we managed and she was comfortable at home. Taking care of our parents is difficult!
Hope you have a great week!
Oh, Melodie, I am so sorry about your mom. It is difficult taking care of our parents, but at the same time, I am glad I am. I have learned a lot about myself and my mother.
I am glad you are working on managing your stress. It plays such a big part in our overall health and wellness.
Thank you. It isn’t easy to manage it but doing the best that I can.