Too Tired / Too Busy
These are likely the most common things I hear when people tell me why they didn't exercise or why they had trouble making good decisions about food. I'm not really sure who isn't too busy or too tired, but I think it's important we realize when we might just be making excuses for not doing those things which bring us closer to our goal.
I was thinking about these things this morning while I was doing rounds at a long term care facility. The ward clerk asked me how my day was going. Now, I had had a lousy sleep due to a restless dog who wanted to explore the outdoors at 2:30am, followed by a phone call about a patient at 3:30 am; I was truly feeling low. Also, I was hoping to get some exercise but I knew I was facing a long day at the office, and I knew my energy levels would be non-existent by the time I got home at 7pm. However, over the years I've realized the brain responds to negative words, so I simply said "I'm great.”
I guess what I'm getting at is that we create our own energy, and we define our own lives. We cannot allow ourselves to give in to perceived ‘busyness' or perceived ‘fatigue.'
If you know you will feel better tomorrow if you do a 20 minute walk, or go to Zumba class or aquafit, and then just go. Don't listen to those voices of ‘fatigue;' you will feel energized and proud of yourself for going. Similarly, don't use "I'm too busy” as an excuse, because everyone is busy. It is a matter of making priorities. If sitting down and planning your meals or writing in your journal helps you stay on track, then do it and don't let anything or anyone get in your way unless it is a true emergency. We are deflected by small things in our lives and negate ourselves.
If you feel ‘tired' then you might try visualizations. For instance, if you weigh 234 pounds and want to be 180 then visualize yourself getting on the scales, looking down and seeing it register 180. See yourself fitting into that pair of pants, outfit or dress that was too tight before. See yourself - you are feeling great; you see yourself being complimented on your looks and the effort it took to get that way. If you do this, it will help get you out of that negative state of mind and help you make better decisions to get to your goal.
The human mind is so powerful that we can manifest for ourselves virtually anything we focus on. The problem is that most people focus in on life's negativities, and in doing so, draw in negative people, experiences and circumstances.
There is a lot of time in the day to get things done. Don't just say "I'm too busy.” Find 20 minutes somewhere where you can walk, write, meditate, visualize or stretch. There is time; we just choose not to look for it. (I did do my run during the first period of the hockey game, I did some weights during the second period, turned the TV off and wrote this during the third: there was time, I just had to find it.)
Take responsibility for yourself, your feelings and what YOU want to achieve. Don't allow any negative statements to stall your progress. Make affirmations: "I WILL do this. I CAN do this. If I fail today I will succeed tomorrow.”
It's a mindset, but it takes work. Keep on trying and don't ever give up. You can do it!
Dr. Doug