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It’s shocking to think that it’s now been two whole years since COVID burst onto the scene and changed everything. And now, just as things were perhaps, maybe, starting to look like they might be becoming a little brighter, the news has gone straight from COVID to war. It is quite mentally exhausting just existing at the moment.
On a personal level, sorting out a divorce is hard going, not seeing the kids much is awful, and having COVID at the end of January was pretty rubbish too to be honest. The past few months have been about survival, but things are finally starting to move forward, and with spring around the corner I’ve decided enough is enough, and I’m going to start making a concerted effort to make things better. Self care isn’t all baths and hair appointments (although those are fab) but making changes to improve my life.
I feel like writing it down means I have to stick to it, soh here’s what I’m planning:
Go swimming
Anti-depressants and two years of shite have seen to it that I’ve piled the weight on and that’s making me miserable. I’ve never felt so unfit and unhealthy.
I’ve started swimming again and oh my word, I’ve really missed it. Pre-pandemic, I used to go several times a week – and go pilates sessions in between – and I felt so much better in myself. It felt like an enormous thing to start up again, but I’ve finally done it. I might not be able to lose the weight quickly or even at all, but I can definitely work on my fitness and making a start on that has been a great step in a positive direction. It feels so good to be back in the pool.
Invest in better sleep
When I moved, I bought a very cheap bed, simply because they could deliver in time and I panicked and got the first cheap one I saw. Friends, I implore you: do not do this. It is the absolute pits. The springs are uncomfortable AF; it’s good for being a trampoline for the kids, but definitely not for sleeping.
I’ve been looking at getting a new mattress but good mattresses for my king size bed aren’t cheap and there are so many to choose from. I’ve been nervous of getting it wrong and ending up with another more expensive mistake. I think I’ve whittled it down though and I’m going to order it at the end of the week and hopefully gift myself a good night’s sleep at last (if I can actually go to bed at a reasonable hour).
Get my health sorted
Whether it’s related or not, since having COVID for the second time I’ve suffered with reflux so badly that it’s affecting my sleep and my life in general. It’s really bloody miserable and I feel awful about being so annoyed at my kids who both suffered as babies. I was not very understanding, and definitely not at 3am when they were screaming in pain. Now I know how they feel.
In the good old Great British way, I was pretty much ignoring it and hoping it would go away but enough is enough; I’ve got a doctor’s appointment booked and have started an elimination diet to see what could be causing it. If I find out it’s cheese, I’m going to be so sad I can’t even tell you.
Eat better
So often I get to the end of the day and I can’t face cooking so end up eating rubbish, and this doesn’t help my mood. I’ve recently subscribed to HelloFresh. If you use this link to sign up, you get £46 off, and I get £20. Currently I have enough to get myself a box a week for a few months and it’s proven so handy to have something there which I can cook from scratch but easily. I feel like I’m eating so much more veg and a wider variety of food, and enjoying learning some new recipes too.