The last few weeks have been a doozy for me. Nothing bad in particular, I have just felt miserable, crappy and nasty. I have been trying to figure out what the issue has been and of course, try to get over it. My PCOS seems to be going berserk, my doctor decided to retire (I have been going to him for 12 years), I had bronchitis, I have had huge stress at work (I work as an accountant in the middle of a recession in the construction industry---you do the math), I have no energy and just have been exhausted. To top it off, I can't sleep because I can't shut my mind off.
For the past year, my PCOS has been on a roll like I have never seen before and I think I am hitting my breaking point. I am sick of not feeling well. I am sick of having to take a handful of medicine each day. I am sick of cyst pain. I am heavier than I have ever been. I am just sick of it. Everyone with a chronic disease feels this way at some time in their life. I literally am just sick of PCOS. I hate it.
So, what am I going to do about it? I could stay in bed and cry and feel sorry for myself because right now that is just what I want to do. It would just be so much easier to give up, to stop caring. I am just tired.
But, I won't do that. If you have read my previous posts, you'll see most of the time I am a very optimistic, reach for the stars kind of person. I have to get back to that point---because right now I am just cranky. So, I will. Tomorrow I am going to try to get up with a smile on my face. I am going to beat this thing, I refuse to let it control me. Stupid as it may sound, just saying that out loud can make a difference. I am going to follow my own advice and start by making a list. I will not let this get me down any longer.
Tomorrow is a new day. I WILL find a new doctor that cares about me as much as the old, I WILL leave my stress at work, I WILL get enough sleep tomorrow night and I WILL beat my PCOS.
The funny thing is, I feel better already...
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Where to Start?
PCOS affects so many facets of our daily lives. Food, exercise, skin condition, hair condition, weight, emotions, pain and on and on and on... Where does someone with PCOS even start? Changing your entire life and way of thinking isn't going to happen over night.
My suggestion is to prioritize what you want to change. Make a list of what symptoms or difficulties of PCOS frustrate you the most. I generally limit my list to three items at a time, once I tackle one of those items, I re-evaluate and add another frustration.
So for me, here is what my list might look like.
1. I am frustrated that I have had fertility issues.
2. I can't lose weight!
3. I am an emotional roller coaster.
After I make this list, I write down two things I can do EACH day without fail to help tackle each item. This can be a hard part because you have to commit to doing this every day, or you will find that you are overwhelmed and end up giving up. I try to choose small things to do. For example, if you struggle with your weight and you exercise for 15 minutes a day, try to make a goal to add an additional 5 minutes. Also, phrase these as "I will" instead of "I will try." By saying you are going to do something, you are more likely to actually follow through because there isn't an out!
Here is how I might expand my list:
1. I am frustrated that I have had fertility issues.
~I will read one article a day dealing with infertility to learn more and stay up-to-date on current research
~I will talk to others about my feelings
2. I can't lose weight!
~I will add an extra 5-10 minutes of physical activity to my schedule
~I will replace all beverages I drink with water instead (except my morning milk!)
3. I am an emotional roller coaster.~I will make 10 minutes for myself each day to do something for myself
~I will go to bed on time in order to get adequate sleep
After making these mini-goals, put your plan into action. As you look at my list, I would like to point out that even if I did each and every one of those items it would take about an additional 30 minutes out of my day if I did them individually, but I could combine the physical activity with doing something for myself and not really increase the energy put out by much at all. However, winning the battle does take commitment, and you are WORTH the time it takes!
Look for my next post on the next steps to take and how rewards help and that hitting a plateau or taking steps backward is okay!
My suggestion is to prioritize what you want to change. Make a list of what symptoms or difficulties of PCOS frustrate you the most. I generally limit my list to three items at a time, once I tackle one of those items, I re-evaluate and add another frustration.
So for me, here is what my list might look like.
1. I am frustrated that I have had fertility issues.
2. I can't lose weight!
3. I am an emotional roller coaster.
After I make this list, I write down two things I can do EACH day without fail to help tackle each item. This can be a hard part because you have to commit to doing this every day, or you will find that you are overwhelmed and end up giving up. I try to choose small things to do. For example, if you struggle with your weight and you exercise for 15 minutes a day, try to make a goal to add an additional 5 minutes. Also, phrase these as "I will" instead of "I will try." By saying you are going to do something, you are more likely to actually follow through because there isn't an out!
Here is how I might expand my list:
1. I am frustrated that I have had fertility issues.
~I will read one article a day dealing with infertility to learn more and stay up-to-date on current research
~I will talk to others about my feelings
2. I can't lose weight!
~I will add an extra 5-10 minutes of physical activity to my schedule
~I will replace all beverages I drink with water instead (except my morning milk!)
3. I am an emotional roller coaster.~I will make 10 minutes for myself each day to do something for myself
~I will go to bed on time in order to get adequate sleep
After making these mini-goals, put your plan into action. As you look at my list, I would like to point out that even if I did each and every one of those items it would take about an additional 30 minutes out of my day if I did them individually, but I could combine the physical activity with doing something for myself and not really increase the energy put out by much at all. However, winning the battle does take commitment, and you are WORTH the time it takes!
Look for my next post on the next steps to take and how rewards help and that hitting a plateau or taking steps backward is okay!
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