Summer vibes are still going strong around here! I’m loving the new rhythm of my weeks. Having two days off in a row allows me to relax in a way I didn’t even realize I was missing. In the past, while I enjoyed my days off, I also had the nagging thought that I had to go to work the next day. Now on Tuesdays I’m constantly reminding myself that I also have tomorrow off. I love it!
This Tuesday I got out to the trail for a run!!! It was cloudy, which makes the photos look kind of gloomy, but that also made it much cooler. It felt great to be out there again.
I also did a strength workout and took care of several items on my to-do list, including making the appointment to get Sylvie spayed. It’ll be next Tuesday. They told me that her sutures will be internal (I don’t really understand that) so she may not have to wear a cone! It depends on how much she tries to lick the area- but we can start off without one. Phew.
Wednesday I had a great workout at the gym and a long walk. But just in case it sounds like I was working hard all day, I also slept late, had a nap, and read an entire book (Agatha Christie’s Taken at the Flood). So… I enjoyed myself, and was ready to go back to work on Thursday.
Speaking of working hard, I love this article: Aging Well is Exhausting. Yes, sometimes it DOES feel like life is one big homework assignment. “… aging feels like a competitive sport. There is an undercurrent of blame here: if you age badly, it’s probably your own fault.” The list of things we’re supposed to be doing is exhausting- cardio, strength, stretching, PT, balance exercises, journaling, gratitude, sleep hygiene, cognitive health, supplements, hydration, ETC. Sheesh. No wonder people are tired and overwhelmed. I vote for more relaxation… but I also don’t want to end up frail and sickly, so I’m not sure what the answer is.
Coming up… a low key weekend. Work on Saturday, takeout and basketball game at night. Sunday TBD!
What are you doing this weekend?
23 Responses
Here’s the thing: I know a few women who lived into their 90s and did… nothing. They ate normal meals (which, admittedly, from the period of time when they were growing up would have been more balanced and snacking and junk food wasn’t really a thing), walked for exercise. I know we know more about bone health and brain health, but I feel like we’re stressing so much about how we take care of our bodies that some of the “good” we’re doing has to be offset by the pressure and stress of trying to do it right?
I don’t know, maybe I’m way off base and my bones will crumble by the time I’m 50 but everything in health and wellness just feels so complicated (and expensive) now?
This weekend. Currently recuperating from a trip, hoping to make it to see my first real castle on this adventure—Caerphilly, the second biggest in Britain.
Yes!!! That’s a great point that she doesn’t even touch on in the article- if you REALLY want to age well, it will cost a lot of money. And I agree (again, this WAS mentioned in the article) that genetics plays a very large role. So… I don’t know.
I’ve been reading about your Scotland adventures!!! It looks really beautiful.
Sheesh is right.
Can’t do it all.
We do our best.
I’m skipping my run tomorrow. My body is complaining and then I go to NYC for work on Sunday.
I plan to do some fun things while I’m there.
Yes, we do our best! And there’s so much left up to chance. Meanwhile we might as well make the most of our lives, which you always do. Have fun in NYC!
I HATE the horrible neoliberal personal choice bent in convos re: aging. Personal choice does NOTHING to shore up inadequate systems, but the rhetoric of it works to let institutions of the moral hook. GAH. (Also by he time I do cardio and strength and yoga and waling and figure out my protein and fiber intake and take supplements, I have ued up HALF MY GD DAY).
Yes, I know- I always say this: I would have time for everything if only I didn’t have to go to work. But even if I were retired, I could probably fill my day with “wellness” activities and still feel exhausted.
This is a brilliant comment that, if it’s ok, I’m going to steal and use in my “reflective practice” for a health promotion course I’m taking. You’ve summed it up so much better than I managed in the massive rant I had in class. Thank you.
I’m glad you’re living the good life with two days in a row off on the regular. You’ve been so good at the Make Every Day Count thing that I kind of forgot that you never get a full “weekend”.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that Ms Sylvie doesn’t need a cone.
Now on to everyone’s least favorite topic that (hopefully) affects us all: aging! I think there is a happy medium between taking care of yourself and chasing good health to the point of not enjoying life. Plus genetics…we can all stack the deck in our favor but only so far.
I know. I have several elderly clients (like 90+) and their secret always seems to be… good genes. I also have some younger clients who are chasing good health, taking it to some extreme measures. I guess, to each his own!
I think taking care of ourselves is a good thing but it can become too overwhelming with all the noise about what we’re “supposed to” be doing. Sometimes we just have to go back to the basics — exercising regularly in a way that we enjoy, eating well most of the time but still being able to enjoy treats.
This weekend I’m hoping to get in a long run in the mountains since it’s hot down in the desert, sleeping in and grocery shopping. Not super exciting but after being out of town last weekend, it needs to be done!
Actually a long run in the mountains sounds super exciting to me! I also like the sleeping in part. Grocery shopping… meh. Well, we have to eat.
Your Wednesday sounded like just what you needed!
This weekend, I have a mystery entry on my calendar that I don’t remember making. It just says Family. Maybe from thinking about taking a trip back in March? But hopefully it wasn’t important. I think we’ll be doing windows this weekend. Not fun but necessary.
Huh! I hope a large crowd of in-laws, cousins and grandparents don’t appear at your door for the big family party (that you’ve forgotten about). It would be hard to host a big bash while you’re doing the windows.
I agree with what Elisabeth says. I am doing all I can to stay healthy but I think of my grandma who lived to almost 101 and did not do anything special. She had high blood pressure and cholesterol so was on meds for that. But she never had a joint replacement and was spry and pretty sharp up until the end. She did work to keep her mind sharp between crossword puzzles and daily scrabble games with her sister for many year. For exercise, she walked several miles/day until she moved into assisted living and then she did fitness classes there. So she did do things to maintain her health but nothing crazy! There’s such a socioeconomic element to aging well so it makes me a little cranky. It’s time consuming and expensive to eat healthy and that is not achievable for many parts of the population.
Yes, all true! It sounds like your grandma did what she could without getting too crazy about it. And she was probably also blessed with good genes. In addition to healthy food being expensive, there are all sorts of anti-aging supplements right now that are very expensive- so once again, it’s a socioeconomic issue, which doesn’t seem fair.
HER EARS!!! I mostly just want to play with your cats.
Exciting plan for me this weekend is to go to a piercing place and get my starter nose ring swapped out for a non-starter one. Woot woot!
Okay, we’ll obviously need a photo of the new nose ring!
Hooray for getting back onto the trails! And then having the next day off as well must feel extra luxurious.
Thanks for sharing that article, Jenny. The comments on it are interesting too.
I often feel like healthy ageing has turned into a full-time job. I try to do all the “right” things, but sometimes I wonder if I might as well just lie on the couch all day. Then again, the mental side is hard to ignore: I simply feel better when I move, run, and lift. Those happy endorphins make a huge difference!
Yes, I think that’s one thing we can all agree upon- movement feels good. Although I might push back on the lifting part- I always seem to end up hurting myself. I would be VERY happy if I could just run every day!
I am so glad you are enjoying your two days off in a row. I remember when I worked retail and did not have consecutive days and I always felt like I didn’t really full get a break. It’s like you need one day to get everything done and one day to relax!
As for aging, I’ve known men who drink too much and eat steak every day and they are in their 90s and others who run every day and eat healthy who died in their 50s! You just never know! I think relaxing is underrated! Everyone gives a lot of credit to being busy but there is a lot of wisdom in getting rest and recovery!
YES. Genetics really play a role. And- What you said. This week I have a ton of pesky errands on Tuesday, and it would be depressing if that were my only day off.
Ha, it does sound like we’re asked to do A LOT to stay healthy… but it’s not a one-size fits all approach by any means. Some people get by doing the absolute minimum, others do ALL THE THINGS and still have issue after issue. It’s not fair and there’s probably some luck involved and I think we all need to find our “happy place” somewhere in the middle, where we stay active but also take appropriate rest. (Hey, I didn’t say it was easy.)
I hope Sylvie’s spaying procedure goes well. Having worked as a vet assistant as a teen, I know about these internal sutures – the vet closes the incision beneath the skin between the abdominal muscles and tissue, so that there’s no visible scar/suture line on the surface. It’s kinda genius.
Gosh, it must be SO NICE to have two full days off in a row after not having that typical weekend routine for so long. I hope you can keep up this schedule!
I’m glad Sylvie’s sutures will be internal. That will hopefully make the recovery process a lot easier!