The least motivating January email you'll receive
It’s not enough for my health
I’m barely moving
I haven’t trained consistently in over 6 months
My body aches
I’m lacking energy and motivation
It’s not enough for my health
Was the general vibe of my mild menty-b to my mum the other night
She had to postpone her care of Ohtli which meant I couldn’t train this week
Which sucked
But was the right thing to do
I never want people to stretch too far and sacrifice themselves for my needs
As much as I appreciate and encourage their support
Love isn’t self-sacrifice and I refuse to model that for my son
Which means I don’t allow those to self-sacrifice for me
Much as I try not to do it for others
You see
Since I passed the ‘safe to train’ mark post-c-section I had in August
I’ve struggled to make the gym twice a week
Until now
My family have been my only source of physical babysitting support
And as incredible and generous as it is
It’s insufficient for me to get everything done that I need
And in the time dedicated to me
I choose to prioritise work
The reality is I am the only person in the world whose priority is my son
Unlike those in relationships who often (not always) share that priority
It’s not the job of my family to prioritise Ohtli or me
And despite recognising the benefits of being a single parent
It’s true that every decision I make is a (welcome) sacrifice
Yesterday I reminded myself
No one is going to do this for me
No one should find more time to help me
No one can shower my filthy bod after 3 days
No one can stretch my aching back
I need to prioritise myself
No, we don’t all have the same 24 hours in a day
But we all have a responsibility to ourselves to show up and sort our shit
Be that by doing 2 speedy gym sessions per week
Topping that up with an icy run in the streets whilst singing 5 little monkeys on repeat for 25 minutes
A few 5 minute stretch sessions by the mini heater instead of your preferred 20 minute yoga flows
Or eating lunch every day regardless of the copious amounts of chocolate you ate mid morning
All habits I had to actively write down for myself this week for accountability
Despite being a Nutritionist and Personal Trainer and doing this all for an actual living
I also reminded myself of what health really means
And it doesn’t mean lying awake at 3am with a nipple gremlin worrying that I'm letting myself down
At ETPHD we consider the flourishing model of health
It considers aspects of health beyond the physical
Emotional
Social
Financial
Environmental
Occupational
Spiritual
Mental
It’s not particularly healthy that I’m training less than I have since I was 16
But you know what’s less healthy?
Lying in bed awake at 3am feeling anxious that I’m not doing enough
That I might be unable to do enough for some time
That I haven’t eaten 7 fruit and veggies today
That my meditation sessions now last approximately 20 seconds because that’s how long it takes for me to fall asleep these days instead of the 20 minute sessions I was trained in as a meditation teacher
This might not be the most motivational or inspirational email you receive this January
But I suppose I want to remind you that we are all human
We are all just doing our best
And whatever habits you’re focusing on to begin this year
They are enough
You are doing enough
Despite what you used to manage to do
If you did
As I jogged with the pram yesterday in the ice a woman shouted to me
Well done you, you’re amazing
And I’m not ashamed to say I got teary
Life’s tough
You’re inundated right now with shredded bodies and hyper-'successful' people and toxic positivity and people who listen to 18 Huberman podcasts per week and maybe you’re right there with them
Or maybe you’re like me
And you’re focusing on doing what feels like the basics
And that really is enough
You are enough
Remember the true meaning of health
Remember what else you have in your life
Remember to show up for yourself
And always remember to be the loving force you need for yourself
Because health is nothing without love
What would be the point?
I’m always here
Em
