Tuesday, May 22, 2012

I Need to Pace Myself


Here I am -- post-cancer treatments and post-surgery. I have my life back and I have hair. But there is one small problem. I need to pace myself.

I find myself wanting to do it all and right now. I want to power through every project at work just to show everyone that I'm back. I want to visit friends, attend art festivals, re-start my Masters degree program, take a romantic vacation and join a yoga studio. And let's not forget about working out, eating right and losing some weight.

Perhaps I am too greedy because my life has been essentially on hold for the past 12 months. I missed all those things last year while I was hooked up to an IV and feeling rather lousy. I need to get over this impatient, greedy phase and slow down because I am getting a little stressed and overwhelmed. The last thing I want to do is invite cancer back into my body. No thank you!

I really need to step back and keep reminding myself that small, consistent changes can lead to big results. I don't need to take on more than I can reasonably handle. And I don't need to do it all today.

5 comments:

  1. Good advice. I know exactly where you are coming from. Your life has been "on hold" long enough and you want to jump back in with both feet. But burnout comes quickly, so it is important to pace yourself - like you said. You've got lots of life to live - just try to savor every moment. Remember, it's quality, not quantity. :)

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  2. hi jen,

    sounds as though you are headed in the right direction with the awareness of needing to pace yourself. though i am only a newbie, just dx'd in dec, 2012, i have had 2 1/2 years caring for my husband who also has cancer, so went through all the trauma of that, plus my own chemo and it's fallout. now i have a little window of time before lumpectomy and radiation, and i feel great and am raring to go. hugh is in remission, my chemo brought better than expected results - so hard to rein myself in! thanks for this post to remind me that i don't have to do it all, and that, as rach so aptly put it, it's quality, not quantity. i am so happy you are doing so well. warm hugs, karen sutherland

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  3. I hear ya! We are at about the same stage of our cancer journey and I feel the same way. I want to do it all: Write a book, start doing some private practice work, maybe enroll in a breast cancer coaching program......but like you, I need to remember to pace myself. Great advice.
    www.perksofcancer.com

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  4. So true! I am working too many hours lately to prove that I can get so much more done and I am wearing myself out (I also promised that I would find better work/life balance, HA!). I regularly have to remind myself to slow down, smell the roses because life is truly an amazing thing.

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