Listen to Your Body

I thought I was doing well starting the day today.  A co-worker told me I sounded congested, and as I listened to patients, sometimes their words were muffled, which made me realize I had some head congestion that was affecting my hearing. (Cotton head.) I apologized for same to my patients.

The same co-worker told me I looked "hurried."  Well, I was focused on getting to my office and going to the pod where I was scheduled to do a group.  I am often "tunnel vision focused" when I have a task to accomplish.  Some people think I am rude.  This co-worker recognized it as being goal or task oriented vs. not anti-social.

It was a full day, but not a difficult day. 

I had thought I would go to the Lifestyle Center http://www.covenanthealth.org/Our-Services/LifeStyle-Centre.aspx to walk and/or swim in the pool tonight. I saw the clouds building, but a check of the National Weather Service http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lub/ indicated that there were no storms in the vicinity of Lubbock. I had decided that if there were storms in the area that closed the pool, I would walk. I was set.

But, when I got out to the car, I realized that I had "hit my wall."  I wanted to just sit in the car and close my eyes.  My lower back hurt, which happens when I am tired, and is usually assuaged by analgesic patches or heat. I wanted to close my eyes and rest.  But the parking lot of a prison is not the place to do that.

As I drove home, I debated my plans for the night, and decided that I should 'listen to my body."  I felt feverish for a while when I was home, but did not check my temperature. I did some computering, while I ate a sandwich. Then, I sat back, relaxed, closed my eyes, opened my eyes after a while, read, and just chilled.  I really think this is what I needed to do tonight: relax; chill; just be.

I am not very energetic right now, but feeling less exhausted. I will go to bed early tonight.

As important as it is to stick to a routine, to push yourself, to keep going, it is also important to listen to your body.  Which is what I did tonight.