Friday Inspiration – Fighting an Off Day

It’s a busy week, but I didn’t want to neglect #aheartfitfriday, especially since there’s been such a great response to it. (Thanks for getting this started, Erika!)

I had grand plans of sharing some more awesome brain science with you all, but I’m pressed for time.

I decided instead to share something I’ve shared here before, that I think applies.

I have my occasional down days, days where I don’t feel like myself. Those are the days when doing most things, especially eating healthy and taking care of myself are the hardest.

I know I’m not alone in this, so I’m sharing some of things I remind myself when I have those lows:

Stop turning reasons into blame. When I start feeling “off”, I always feel like there has to be a reason. Inevitably, I decide that reason is me. It couldn’t possibly be something as simple as not getting enough sleep, low blood sugar, or hormones, right?

Instead of picking myself apart, I try to give myself permission to just be “off” and seek out practical pick me ups. Go for a walk. Take my vitamins. Treat myself in some way.

Have an opposite day. When I’m feeling fat and ugly, I’ll do my makeup and find an outfit that makes me feel the opposite. Call my sister (the fashionista in the family) and have her  help me “cute it up”. When I’m feeling like my photography stinks, take more pictures. Show them to loving friends who make me feel good about what I can do. When I’m stuck in my writing, don’t stop writing altogether, just write something else; a blog post, a short story, or even an entertaining email. (Back in the day, some of my coworkers received emails from me composed entirely of haiku.)

Do something new. If I can’t bring myself to do the things I usually do, skip right to trying something new and fun. It may just be the pick me up to get back to everything else.

Come out of the cave. I’m an introvert. My natural inclination is to retreat from all interaction when I’m not at my best. Despite my introversion, I have some really great friends who know how to make me feel better about myself. I’m not saying I have to become a social butterfly when I really want to lock myself up cocoon-style, but I need to remember that really awesome friends help remind me that I’m good enough and smart enough (and doggone it, people like me).

These aren’t earth shattering hints. Just reminders for those days when we forget that taking care of ourselves goes beyond the diet and exercise.

How am I doing with the diet and exercise part? Not bad. Not great. Exercise is still a bit elusive – which means my homework for the weekend is to sit down and make an actual schedule.

And I may need to reach out to some of my friends to keep me accountable.

Stats are identical to last week – which is good given my week.

How did you all do? Are you joining us on #aheartfitFriday? You don’t have to blog about it – you can chat with us on Twitter using the hashtag #aheartfitFriday!

In other news, I had my first author book signing this week! It was really fun (and honestly, a bit scary) visiting The Hungry Minds Book Club. They are currently reading, and after hearing them dissect East of Eden, I’m a little nauseous.

It’s an awesome kind of nausea, though.

I’ve also been interviewed this week over at Tameri Etherton’s blog, you can win a Kindle Paperwhite pre-loaded with 10 e-books (one of which can be mine!) over here, and remember – all proceeds from sales of The Ruth Valley Missing this month go to Kids Need to Read. Spread the word!

Thanks to all of you for your amazing support!