Daily Workout
Go to work.
Bring work home.
Run the house.
Raise the kids.Cook and clean.
Shop and entertain.
Organize and supervise.I am large and in charge!
from More to Love, © Elizabeth Patch, all rights reserved
• The school year is coming up soon,
so I’ve been getting ready for my new classes.
• My garden is overflowing, so I’ve been preserving & pickling.
• I’ve got a big pile of pretty new fabric, so I’ve been sewing some new things.
• My dear friend is starting a business, so I have been helping her out.
• People drop over, so I cook and visit and hang out.
• It’s hot and it’s August, so I’ve been sitting outdoors in the shade with a gin & tonic .
• Every now & then I squeeze in some drawing and writing.
• And then there’s my family…(they are not really last on the list BTW!)
I think you get the picture:
I’m busy and I’m not get any formal exercise (even though I pay for a gym membership!)
And I feel guilty about it…
This sort of ties in with the whole perfection thing many women struggle with:
On top of all the appearance pressures (thin! pretty! stylish! young-looking! fit!)
we think we should be able to do everything all the time,
and then think we should be doing even more…
I know that running around like a chicken with her head cut off isn’t the same as
going to the gym or yoga class or walking around the track,
but shouldn’t we get some credit for leading an active, busy life?
I’m saying this to myself as much as I am to you:
Give yourself credit for all the things you accomplish every day,
and stop feeling guilty that you aren’t doing even more.
Talk to me! Do you do this too:
Get a zillion things done everyday, and then expect to do even more?
Lead a very active life, and then feel bad if you don’t “exercise”?
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Elizabeth Patch and Renacemento, Renacemento. Renacemento said: RT @elizabethpatch: http://elizabethpatch.com/2010/08/too-busy-to-get-to-the-gym.html lead a hectic life, too busy to get to the gym & feeling guilty? [...]
This is really great, Elizabeth. Thank you so much for your inspiring illustrations and messages! Def. passing this one on to all the frazzled friends I have.
Jenn, you are welcome! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who has a circle of equally frazzled friends! and thanks for sharing
Oh, YEAH, I do that too! I nearly always schedule too many things in one day and then feel disappointed in myself that I didn’t complete them all, never mind that I actually did complete quite a bit. When I’m too focused on “doing things,” I also tend to neglect the human aspect–don’t take the time to hear my family and my friends, or be with them in a meaningful way.
Isn’t it awful that we feel disappointed when we probably should feel at least a little bit proud of ourselves…and ditto about neglecting the family/friends in my attempts to cross everything off the never-ending list of things to do.
Oh, yes, I absolutely do that. Dropped my gym membership when the twins were born because I simply couldn’t justify it. I find myself doing silly things like squats while I brush my teeth, but I know it’s not the same. But short of using every moment they’re in preschool to work out, I don’t know how I would get to the gym. And if I did that, I shudder to think about everything else that wouldn’t get done.
It is a shame that the freedom to do anything has turned into pressure to do everything.
Thanks for sharing–dropping by from SITS.
“It is a shame that the freedom to do anything has turned into pressure to do everything” Oh I love that! great way to put it.
BTW, doing squats while brushing your teeth shows some serious motivation!
Great reminders! I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately with what I haven’t accomplished – but you’re right, there’s a lot that I have.
Hobbies include writing, quilting, sewing, knitting. And I recently started spinning my own yarn. Basically anything arty.
….so we wnd up feeling disatisfied no matter how hard we tried.And what would be so bad about having a rest , or relaxing ?Why on earth do think we have to be so productive?This is coming from someone who has spent the weekend cleaning, running, shopping, visiting, working,sorting out, washing now surfing the net .
Great attitude, and so much truth in your writing! I’ll enjoy visiting with you.
I found you via SITS. Come on over, there’s a fresh pot of coffee on! I can tell we have a lot to talk about…
Leah
Woah–you are a busy little lady! You are spot-on with this one and it’s a timely post for me because I’ve been kicking myself for not attending my yoga classes. But it happens. Sometimes life DOES get in the way and we have to remind ourselves that it’s okay–we’ll make it back when time allows. There just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day sometimes.
This is great… and so true.
-CK