As many of you know, I recently had surgery, and my recovery ended up being much longer than I originally anticipated.
For days, I was exhausted, nauseated, weak, and losing weight and yet I didn't have an appetite. Then, I started experiencing some pain that didn't feel right. I finally went to the doctor and discovered I had a post-surgery infection.
While I'm feeling much better now, the last two weeks were hard and I struggled to not feel discouraged. This thing just seemed to drag on and on and on. My doctor had said she thought I'd feel mostly all back to normal within a few days and it had been two weeks and I still didn't feel back to normal.
I just wanted to have my usual energy back. I wanted to be able to function at the energy level and productivity level that I'm used to.
In the grand scheme of things, this is such a small thing. I know there are so many people dealing with so much more, but at the same time, that didn't change the fact that I was tired of waking up feeling sick and tired. I just wanted to be well!
Do you ever wake up and feel tired & discouraged, or just can't seem to find the strength to face the day?
Here are 5 things I did when I felt tired and discouraged last week:
1. Fire your inner critic.
My inner critic was telling me I was a wuss and that I should be able to deal with this more easily. I had to fire this voice inside of me that was saying it was my fault and my problem - that I needed to push harder and just get up and get over it in order to stop feeling so exhausted and sick.
Instead, I needed to give myself grace. I needed to focus on healing. I needed sleep. And I needed to take it easy. I decided to fire my inner critic and instead step back and listen to my body's need for rest.
Listen to the truth, and don't let the inner critic dictate your life.
2. Feed your body well.
Sometimes when we are going through a difficult time, it is so easy to reach for chocolate, junk food, or too many carbs. Emotional eating might feel good in the moment, but in the long run, it will often make us feel even worse.
When I was feeling nauseated, I realized I was just reaching for whatever I sounded good, but it wasn't necessarily what my body needed. Instead, I started making a conscious effort to eat healthful foods that would fuel my body well. As a result, I found that I felt so much more nourished and it made a big difference in my energy levels.
3. Fill your soul.
What does your soul need? What are you craving? Maybe you need to do something creative, or just call up a friend and share your struggles.
For me, I just wanted to watch a good movie and relax, so that's what my husband and I did. I also went to church, spent time with people who support me, read soul-nourishing words, and listened to some encouraging podcasts. All of these things helped build me up on the inside and gave me a feeling of hope.
4. Focus on others.
Some of you kept asking me why I was continuing to blog or periscope when I did not feel well, and it's because I needed to get the focus off of myself and feel encouraged by focusing on others. I find that when I help others, it helps me forget about the things I was originally discouraged about.
There was one morning when I just did not want to get up and record a Periscope. I was feeling so tired and unmotivated, but I made myself do it. Once I got on and started streaming my video, I instantly felt better! Periscoping has become a daily joy for me, and it greatly encouraged me to focus on my community that morning.
What can you do to serve someone else? It might be something as simple as smiling, sending a text, or making a phone call. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture, especially if you don't have a lot of energy.
{"This is our literal air guitar" they told me!}
5. Find the funny.
Find something to laugh about. My friend Tam Hodge always tells me this, and it really makes a difference. Find your funny - whether it's watching YouTube videos, a funny movie, or spending time with a friend who makes you laugh. Laughter is such good medicine!
What helps you when you feel tired and discouraged? I'd love to hear!
P.S. Watch my video on this topic: 5 Things To Do When You Feel Tired & Discouraged.
