It’s no secret that I am always on the go, that I like to
pretend I’m Super Woman.
Rest is not something that comes easily to me. In fact, it
doesn’t come to me, full-stop.
Hell, I even do hip extensions when I’m brushing my teeth,
or the plank when I’m watching the telly. To me, relaxing is like some sort of evil, heinous crime. And I always wonder why, come Friday, I’m a
walking, talking, sleepless Zombie...
Reading Katie Portman’s wonderful post on Pouting in Heels really struck a chord. She said that she was often her own worst enemy, which made me stop and think. Why are we so hard on ourselves? Why
do we women feel this need to be constantly perfect?
Are we doing too much? Are we taking it too far?
Looking at it now, it’s blindingly, brilliantly obvious.
Yes, we are – we need to take it easier on ourselves, we need to learn to
RELAX.
Us ladies are always on the go. Not content with being Super Woman, we want to be Wonder Woman, Cat Woman and perhaps even Batman and Spider Man too. We want to be able to do it all.
I’ve often found that we are our own harshest critics. Not
just on our appearance, but on the way we are too – not content with having it
all at work, we like to have it all at home too.
But is it really plausible? And at what expense are we paying to have it all?
I never think that what I do is good enough. I never feel I
work hard enough. Yet, looking at my typical day now, it’s ridiculous – I get
up earlier than baby so that I can fit in a morning workout, I then shovel down
breakfast so that I can go and tend to him.
I then play with him for a bit, make all his food for the
day, then bundle us up and rush out the door, ready to meet someone or go
somewhere.
We come home, then I’ll put him down for a nap and clean,
clean, clean. I then fit in another workout before he wakes, before popping him
into his Jumperoo (sorry non-mums) and slotting in some work.
Next time he naps, I make dinner, then do some more cleaning
and more work. We then all head out to take the dog on a long walk. By the time
hubby arrives home, I’m on my feet, yet I STILL decide to fit in another
workout. WHY?
At what point do I take a break? When do I say enough is
enough?
Surely it’s OK to pop my bum on the sofa and enjoy a cuppa
and a slice of cake every now and then? And what's wrong with snuggling up with a steaming mug of hot chocolate (better yet, red wine) instead of rushing round making hubby's lunch box, or doing the washing up? Don’t all of us ladies deserve this?
So, I am rising to Katie’s challenge. Starting from today, I am going to enjoy some me time. Every single day.
Whether that be a bath, a quiet cuppa in front of the TV, or
a moment or two to read my books, I will do it.
Let’s say it, once and for all – Super Woman is gone.
Are you going to join me?
Sam x
