Rest Days

Oh the dreaded rest days... Days where you know your body and mind need a break from the grind, but you feel guilty for taking them, am I right? I feel that way right now. 

So I'm a teacher, and working with third graders all day is exhausting. Anyone who tells you being a teacher is easy/they get a lot of vacation time/I could babysit kids all day like you do, has OBVIOUSLY never spent a day in a classroom trying to teach children different standards. It's mentally draining. You're constantly thinking about ways to improve your classroom for learning, to improve the strategies you use to implement the information, wondering if your kids will eat dinner when they go home, and hoping they do well on all these standardized tests to "prove" that you did your job. Because working your ass off everyday isn't proof enough, apparently. It's a lot of pressure, everyday, to perform and be on point every second of those eight hours you are teaching. And today, I'm just plain exhausted. I came home and passed out (on accident) because I was so tired. Adulting ain't no joke, y'all. 

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So even though I know I deserve this rest day (5 days on, one day off), why do I feel guilty? Maybe it's because in the past, one rest day turned into an indefinite number of rests days, but I'm more determined. I made plans to workout with my boyfriend tomorrow in order to hold myself accountable, and I know we'll workout together on the weekend too. But that guilt... It just won't seem to go away. 

But it's okay. It's okay to listen to your body, take a rest day, and get back at it tomorrow. Sleep and rest is just as important as eating healthy and moving your body. We all need time to recover and the only way that happens is when we're asleep. So take some rest, enjoy it, and get back to it tomorrow (oh you know, may just be giving myself a little pep talk as I type this). You got this, and nothing can stop you! 

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Until next time, 

Anneke 

Hump Day Motivation

You know that little voice inside your head? The one that tells us skipping a workout is okay? The one that tells us, "oh, we'll get to it tomorrow"? Sometimes, it is okay to listen to that voice. Our bodies get tired, both physically and mentally and we just need a break. Sometimes, making memories with loved ones is more important than a workout. 

But, sometimes it's not okay to listen to that voice.

Sometimes, we need to listen to that other voice. That voice of reason, reminding us of our goals and the hopes we set for yourselves. That voice, doesn't want us to be disappointed in ourselves, yet again, for quitting something we wanted so badly. This voice, helps us prioritize and make time for the things we really want: a healthy, active lifestyle. 

Today, I listened to the latter, and I'm on Day 5 straight of working out. And I. Am. Proud. I'm proud that I've stuck to a goal (so far), I'm proud that I'm making the time, and I'm proud that instead of giving in to the exhaustion from work, I reminded myself of my goals. I made it a goal to workout 21 days straight, and if I do, I'll reward myself with a gym membership. And I really can't wait to get back into the gym! 

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What did you do today to help you get one step closer to your goal? 

I rode 8 miles on the stationary bike in 40 minutes! 

Happy Hump Day! 

Until next time,

Anneke

Introduction

As the title of my blog may indicate, I have yet to find a balance in my life. I'm a first year teacher, and more often than not, I am overwhelmed with work. I am constantly making lesson plans, grading papers, analyzing data, and creating assessments, all while still teaching seven hours a day Monday through Friday. Crazy busy, right? Right. 

I am finally feeling like I have a handle on things work-wise. I'm finishing my lesson plans quicker, grading more efficiently, and I don't feel as overwhelmed as I did in September and October. Those months were so rough for me. 

With that being said, I really need to get back into a regular workout and eating regimen. I used to go to the gym almost every day, no matter how busy I got in college. However, since transitioning into a full time job with full time responsibilities outside the 40 hours I'm required to be at work, I've let my health sit on the back burner. And to be honest, it makes me very sad.

Not only am I sad with how I look, I am sad with how I let myself go. I used to pride myself on working out and eating healthy when other people weren't. I used to feel such a sense of accomplishment when I finished a really hard workout and pushed past my ideas of wanting to quit. I used to love myself for what I was doing. 

I used to have a fitness blog that I have since deleted, because I wanted to create a blog that was more of a lifestyle blog with different aspects thrown in. While I did start this blog to keep myself accountable for my fitness journey, it will not be entirely about working out and healthy meals. Life is about balance, and let me tell you, this girl loves her ice cream and finding a healthy lifestyle that works for me shouldn't make me give that up, right? 

The most important thing for me is to find a lifestyle that works for ME. Not what someone else finds that works for them, something that is tailored just for me. I have no idea what that looks like, but I am determined to find something that works and that I will stick to. That has been my biggest problem over the years. I find something that works temporarily, but not something I can stick to long term. 

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Until next time, 

Anneke