1. Based on your reflections, and on a scale of 1 to 10 (ten being optimal wellbeing), where do you rate your A-physical wellbeing, B-spiritual well-being, C-psychological well-being? Why?
Okay let’s start with my physical wellbeing, today it would be like a 6 because I was not able to run and that is not good for any part of me. Although I am married, I have a 4 year old son that I am the primary care giver for. I also go to school full time as well as work full time so there is very little time left for me to do anything. I am lucky that I have my mother, father and some close friends that are able to help me with my son and I am able to get the majority of things done each day. As for spiritual wellbeing that is more like a 4 or 5, again I would love to go to church yet there are only so many hours in a day that is already jammed packed. I would love to be able to care out that small amount of time to go to church but those are precious minutes that I could be working on a project or doing the laundry. As for the last topic of my psychological well being it is better on days that I am able to run yet today it is a 7/10. That is because I was able to ride dirt bikes with my son tonight, see some friends as well as eat dinner on the porch, again with my son. I know overall how blessed I am and that makes me very happy as well as making the hard stuff in life not so bad.
2. Develop a goal for yourself in each area (physical, spiritual, psychological).
Goals to me are things that I would do if there was time. As for the goals for my physical well being I would really love to run the ½ marathon faster than in the years past. It seems that I always have so much going on that I do not have the time or energy to train. My goal for my spiritual well being would be to make the time to go to church each week, okay really I will be more realistic and go for once a month. I know that I have a crazy schedule but I really (really) want to start going again; I am going to try very hard this week to make that happen. I also try very hard each day to talk to my son about our faith, just in case we go to church I do not want him to be lost on the whole idea. As for my psychological well being, I have great friends that I am able to call as well as hang out with that make me feel like very thing is going to be okay. My friends and my parents (along with my brother and his wife) support me in going back to school and are there to help in ways that mean so much. My goal is to let them know how special they are and how much I really do need them.
3. What activities or exercise can you implement in your life to assist in moving toward each goal?
If I could just make more hours in a day than I could run more, just kidding because I do not think I would run more I would do more homework or something crazy like that. There is a new training program that I read about today, it is training for a ½ marathon by running only three days a week. I think that might be the way to go, that way I would be able to dedicate three days a week to a running program and schedule other events (like the job shadowing that I am doing to apply to a Master’s program) around the running that is set.
4. Complete the relaxation exercise The Crime of the Century. To hear this exercise, click here. Describe your experience. (What it beneficial? Frustrating? etc.)
Really I need to try this again, but okay I am going to try this meditation thing again. (Is this the same guy as the last meditation??? Just wondering)
A rainbow, really.. During this I was working very hard to think about the body but then I started to think about my back pain from working a 18 hour day yesterday and the people I had to lift up today at work. Again I found it very hard to stay on task, or at least mentally on task. I did not feel grounded at all, I felt like I wanted to sleep, this voice is very soothing. There were several other colors again I did try to focus but I had several others thoughts going on, mostly about the people I had seen in the ER last night, it was like going back to each patients when he was talking about the different body parts. That was kind of neat.
Overall again I found this to be very frustrating~ not only because I could of been doing something else but I do not see the point of doing this meditation over and over if it is not something a person likes or gets anything out of. I think it just makes me less likely to try and focus.
I agree with you we all need more hours in a day. It is very hard to try and work full time go to school full time and then try and work in meditation, physical exercise and all the other daily task one has not to mention having a 4 year old in the house. I think we just have to center on what we can do at this time and what will work best for us while being on such a busy schedule. I for one have very little time and so I am looking forward to the day of getting out of school and begin working on some of these techniques to see what is bet for me and what will not work for me. I did have a better meditation time as I did the exercise this time. I was able to be more focused and listen to the different colors and be able to think of the different areas of the body. However I am not sure I got the full potential of the exercise but I did get more out of it this time rather then last time.
ReplyDeleteHi Jackie,
DeleteI just wanted to comment to you in regards to having more time after school is finished. I feel that this point in life with work, family, and school you don't get time to do much more than those three things. I also plan on really focusing on the summer to spend time with my family and starting more activites that I want to do. My son had a school dance tonight and there was a lady there doing Zumba with the kids, it was so much fun, I think I would like to try that out.
I felt the same way in regards to the colors. It was hard for me to focus on a color....honestly is sort of confused me. The part I felt helpful was the statements we had to say out loud, like I am loved, I am grouded. For me, saying these things outloud were helpful. I can also relate to your mind wondering, I got half way through and my dog started barking, then my son running through house screaming. These things makes it hard to stay focused and if I am realistic I really never have more than 10 minutes of quiet time. I know this is something that I need to find more time of, "me" time.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie, I completely agree on there not being enough hours in a day but like you said we wouldn't give ourselves more "me" time it would go to other people like our children, work, or school. I do think it is important to have me time everyday even if it is only 20 minutes of running or yoga. I work out everyday at lunch as that is the only time I can get to the gym...I am lucky that my building has a gym in it. I feel stretched to my limits at time being a single mother, working full time, doing school, and all of my son's activities. I have realized when I don't workout even for a short amount of time I am in the worst mood so I make sure to work out everyday. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteThere is only so many hours in the day! I understand where you are coming from. Living a balanced life is challenging! You have a child, work, and school. When do you find time to go to church? Or to go for a run? When you figure that out will you let me know? I guess the trick is to "making time." Just workout when you can...and if you want a spiritual boost (if you are Christian this might work) get the bible on cd and listen to it on your way to and from work. It may help you wind down and give you a little spiritual perspective. Good luck!
Leslie
Hi Mama! You are doing a fantastic job keeping up with everything in your life. I definitely admire that you are able to juggle them all...and put dinner on the table! I understand how it is to not have enough hours in the day, which is why I had to cut back on my responsibilities slow down a lot. In just 5 years, I managed to pop out three little ones....lol! So, you can imagine that my days are overrun by children. Anyway, I do like that you want your son to gain familiarity with your faith. I'm assuming you are Christian, and if that is the case, a great way to share your faith with him is to read a bible story a few times a week. I think he'll enjoy them if you get the books with tons of illustrations. Keep it up, Mama!
ReplyDeleteI think you are on a good path to finding a balance in your work and your desire to run. I love running as well, so I understand missing it and sometimes not having the time (or energy) to squeeze it into the day. I always feel like something was missing from my day when I haven't run. Knowing that you want to run, and having a goal in mind are ways to see it become a reality. From there, I bet you will also find time to get the other things, like going to church, done as well. We really do ask a lot out of ourselves, however it seems most don't know what they are missing or what they want from their time. You don't seem to have this problem which makes your path to complete integral health even shorter!
ReplyDeleteGreat job!
Anne
Mommalong I like how active you are. Even though you missed a day of running it is still ok. Consistency is very important but you must give yourself a break if you miss a day. I would like to run as much as you do. I personally dislike running but I love to walk. I have discovered that it is imporant to do what you like to do for exercise.
ReplyDeleteDenise
Denise~ I do not feel "bad" when I miss a day but I get frustrated if I miss more then a couple of days. I know that life comes up but I like to keep in shape and it is very important to me so that I am able to be here when my son is grown and having his children.
DeleteStephanie