Rest When You're Up
Sometimes, it feels like aunt Mae's biggest pitcher of Margaritas isn't enough to get through one more day of the week. Things pile up and you get sadder and sadder. You miss a day of yoga or skip your walk and before you know it, you are three days into dropped habits, chilli cheese fries and a Downton Abbey marathon (somehow, it's the only thing I can watch when I have the blues...there is nothing like a little outrage over spilt tea).
When I am at my lowest, what I most want is to drop everything and "rest until I feel better".
The problem is that I never feel better when I do. "Rest" in this situation is code for hiding under the blanket, watching Sailor Moon until my eyes hurt, and consuming ludicrous amounts of comfort food.
When I feel bad, the last thing I need is rest. Only motion creates momentum. Only using my energy helps me create more of it.
Conversely, when I feel like I have a ton of energy, the FIRST thing I need is rest. It's hard to remember to build in some recovery when things are going well and I am breezing along on a wave of perfect vocal takes and witty banter.
I need rest most then because all that energy doesn't come for free. It feels like it does, you know, all buzzed up and excited. But just cause my spirits are high doesn't mean I suddenly turned into an extrovert (nope, just checked, a lot of people still make me crash and sleep after the emotional high). I love doing people things, especially when my spirits are high, but I also overextend myself when I am on the up because I don't plan for the downtime until my body tells me straight out that I need it.
Ah, listen to your body, they say. But sometimes, your body's signals are just a little late. Like, for example, did you know that when you get thirsty, you are already dehydrated? Yeah, better take a sip of water right now. There, all better.
Rest is like that, too.
Use your planning brain and make time for rest before you get an angry message from your body telling you that you need it. It won't prevent the ups and downs of your normal energetic cycle. You will still feel tired when it is time to feel tired (yeah, thank you period, love you too, see you in two weeks for 12-hour naps) but you'll still prevent some crashes along the way.
