By Karen Guice | Webster Parish Council on Aging
Karen’s Korner,
Someone asked me the other day, “Karen, do you ever get tired of being tired? I am tired all the time.”
My question back was, “Are you getting enough sleep?”
The reply, “I get three to four hours a night, five on a good night.”
Next question, “Are you eating right? Do you get your daily requirements when you choose a meal?”
The reply, “I am so busy, I sometimes don’t realize I haven’t eaten until late in the afternoon.”
“Do you exercise, do you walk or take time to get out in the sunshine when you can?”
The reply, “Well, I am too tired to walk very much, and I hate to go to the gym, and the pollen is so bad right now.”
I think maybe priorities may need to be considered, and it sounds like she needs to “readjust” her mindset in order to improve not only her health, but also her stamina.
As we age, we must realize that we cannot do what we once did. Our bodies naturally slow down. Tasks, that were simple, have become a little more complex with time. We need to slow down a little to enjoy and “smell the roses” a little more, as the adage says.
Take a trip, do that which you have been putting off for more productive work, give yourself the gift of leisure when you can. Life is short, and many of you have worked hard for all these years, and as retirement looms, you have to begin to decide about those activities that are going to take the place of the “old grind.” And there is nothing wrong with slowing down a bit.
Notice, I didn’t say, give up. We never give up, we just “adjust.” We keep on keeping on as long as we can, but we do not want to miss the special opportunities of joy, fun, laughter, and good old rest when we need it.
That is an” attitude adjustment” by the way.
Enjoy your week, and don’t work too hard…there is always room for adjustments, like getting more sleep, eating right, exercising, cutting back on a difficult schedule, and leaving room for fun and relaxation.
As my Daddy always said, “Take a load off, honey!”