Are You On Your List?
by Tracy Tranchitella
I have to admit, writing this article is a selfish act; I need to hear this too. What I am about to disclose is something that I struggle with daily. It is the issue of putting yourself on your list of things to take care of. I eat well and I exercise regularly but beyond that, I allow little time to nurture myself. I have a happy life – two beautiful children, a wonderful husband and work that I am passionate about, but life is hectic. With so much to do and not enough time, we can find that at the end of the day we feel drained with nothing left to give.
Most of my patients are women and many of them mothers of young children. Whether you are a working mother or staying at home with your children, having a bit of time for yourself is always a challenge. I find that many mothers, especially those who stay at home, feel a sense of guilt for taking a break at some point in the day to relax and recharge their batteries. God forbid someone walk in and see you sitting down - they might think you do that all day! The expectations we impose upon ourselves can be the worst.
We seem to have this urgency to constantly get things done, to remain in motion from sunrise to sunset and to take on more projects and have less time to just be - be with ourselves, be with our families, be with our friends and be within nature. This is not healthy – you know it and I know it. That little voice inside of you yearns to be heard. That voice that tells you: STOP, BREATHE, RELAX!
If we don’t listen to that little voice inside, we could end up being forced to stop, breathe and relax by getting sick. Some of the symptoms of chronic stress include insomnia, poor quality sleep, irritability, anger, moodiness, weight gain, weight loss, bowel problems, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, brain fog, hormonal issues and frequent colds and flu. Existing in this state while trying to keep up with your life creates further stress because now you are not functioning at your best and everything seems difficult. You get that “stop the world I want to get off” feeling.
If you have reached that point in your life, it is time to reassess and rebalance. Reassess what to keep, what to stop and what to delegate. If there is some activity or event that eats up a lot of time and energy with little gratification for you or your family, get rid of it. If there are things that you can’t get rid of, find a way to delegate all or part of it to someone else.
One of the best things that I did for myself was to allow someone to come in and clean my house every other week. I know it sounds silly, but to know that all of the rooms in my house will be clean at the same time makes me very happy. I don’t have to think about it anymore and I can focus my time and attention on other things that have more meaning to me.
In rebalancing our lives, we need to recognize that for every action or state of being, there is an opposite action or state of being. Motion vs. stillness, wakefulness vs. sleep, talking vs. silence – the list could go on. The balance point in each of our lives may be different, but it is important for us each to find that balance point and try not to stray too far from it.
When I have an especially busy week or two, I try to balance it with more time for relaxation and time at home with my family on the weekends. This helps bring me back to center and readies me for the next busy week. We need to find time to engage in activities or quiet time that nurtures our spirit and feeds our soul. If we don’t, our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being will suffer.
As a Naturopathic Doctor, part of our training is in lifestyle counseling. We learn to help others address the lifestyle factors that may be keeping them in a state of ill health. This area of our lives cannot be ignored. The things that we do everyday, the thoughts that we think, the way we manage stress, how well we sleep, what we eat and how much we exercise are more influential on our health and well-being than any supplement will ever be. It is not to say that supplements are not part of a healthy program, but if you don’t also address the lifestyle issues, you will not attain the results that you hope for.
I wish you all good health, happiness and peace of mind!
Tracy Tranchitella, ND is a Naturopathic Physician at Stillpoint Center for Integrative Medicine in Murrieta. If you would like more information about Dr. Tranchitella and Stillpoint Center, please call 951-461-4800 or visit our website at www.mystillpoint.com