Give It a Rest
As many of you know, my fiancé (!) and I are in the midst of moving across the country. We’re road warriors at this point, having moved from Boston to Portland back in 2020 and then spending 4 months on the road after leaving Portland in January. We’ve seen as much of the west coast as we possibly could. It’s been beautiful and exhilarating and so much fun and also… very tiring.
Would highly recommend a western road trip.
It’s ridiculous, but I feel guilty being tired on the road. I keep thinking, “I don’t have kids, I don’t really have any obligations right now, I can’t be tired”. This is crazy talk. If you need a rest, you need a rest, plain and simple. You don’t stop feeling hungry when you think about all of the people in the world who are probably hungrier than you.
Aside from the obvious (a good night’s sleep), there are other ways to relax during the day so we don’t feel so worn out. Here are a few of my thoughts:
Limit screen time. Poor iPhones, they’re always getting blamed for our problems. When I’m feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, I start to think that scrolling Instagram for a few minutes will help me chill out. I’m usually wrong. It ends up being way more than a few minutes, and I walk away entertained but not the least bit more relaxed. And because my 10 minute break turned into 45, I’m now more stressed that I haven’t gotten anything done. It’s an endless cycle. Put your phone down (and unclench your jaw while you’re at it).
Let yourself take a nap! If you’re fortunate enough to have an opportunity to nap and you feel you need it, take it. No guilt allowed.
Do something relaxing that you enjoy. Reading a book always helps me unwind, as does a hot shower, or a leisurely stroll with our dog.
Do deep breathing exercises. I’ll probably do a whole blog dedicated to breathing exercises at some point, because I think they’re that simple + powerful. I don’t think I’ve ever regretted taking a step back and a few deep breaths.
Carve out some time for yourself. This is coming from someone who very much considers herself an extrovert - sometimes you just need a break from being social. My favorite way to do this is to go for a walk while listening to one of the way-too-many podcasts I have in rotation at all times. We all know when our social tank is on E, and it’s not good for anyone. Take time for yourself first, so you can be your best with others later.
TL;DR: Your feelings are valid and you should honor them, even if that’s just the call to take a nap. You know the scene in Legally Blonde when Elle Woods is defending the exercise instructor and she says something along the lines of, “Exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t kill their husbands.”? Well-rested people also don’t kill their husbands. Take care of yourself. It’s good for everyone.
Wishing you a week of rest and space and self-care!
