What do you do to keep your spirits up?

I've been feeling like this lately too. Just really burned out and fed up with the grind. Everything seems too much. You've got my sympathies chick!
I find that I have to make myself lists of the stuff I want to do. All small achievable things so that the list itself doesn't bog me down and setting myself the goal to get at least 3 things done on it. Being able to cross things off it gives me some motivation to keep getting things done.
Drinking lots of water helps and making sure I sit down to eat lunch...
Complan is good for a vitamin boost in the mornings too.
Some days I make a rule with myself that I can only use the computer when I'm sitting down to eat and only for as long as the snack lasts.
And I have to go out for a walk every day, whether its for a purpose or not.
Good luck Rach, I hope we're both feeling better soon!

 

I second getting out of the house each day...helps keep me sane.

Do you have any family close by that could help look after the kids for a couple of hrs so that you could have a bit of alone time?...I alway find that helps and recharges my batteries.

hope you feel better soon..

 

Bigs hugs. We all feel like that at times.

I'm not much help. I tend to shop and both me and my bank account balance regret that later. On a more constructive note, I find a good brisk walk in the sun helps or putting on some crazy music to inspire a more energetic approach to daily tasks.

I spent some time in my last therapy session looking at things I can do to take time out for "me" coz I tend to focus on everyone else in the house and just getting thru the day and not spend any time on myself, which I think is the curse of being a mother - we all do it!

Some things I came up with were having a bath, and making a point of turning the computer off at set time each night. I've also committed to finding a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird which I've always wanted to read but never mae time for.

Some of the things my therapist said that other people did sounded really weird, like one lady apparently enjoyed handwashing her clothes, but she said the important thing is that whatever it is works for me (or you in this case!)

lists helped me too. Just don't feel guilty if you don't get it all crossed off as quickly as you would like!

Other things I do are:
- go for stroller walks, or visiting a friend or something
- joined a gym that has free daycare for 1 and a 1/2 hrs (gives me some me time as well as letting me keep fit... having a break is good incentive to do some exercise)... but it took a lot of motivation.
- do simple things for yourself when you have five minutes, eg. painting your nails, putting on perfume, using some nice smelling moisturiser, etc. (try and do something like this at least once a day, to make yourself feel nice)
- see if you can get someone to look after the kiddies and take a nice long shower, use some nice smelling body wash, wash your hair, shave etc. (again make yourself feel nice)
-chat on ohbaby
- try do something crafty with the kids (like getting them to scribble on a piece of paper, then sticking a photo to it, and *voila* you have a photo framed by the kids to give to Grandma)

ETA: My counsellor told me to do AT LEAST one productive thing a day (eg. vacuum the house) and at least one fun thing a day (eg. taking time out to watch a favourite episode of something, or a long hot shower, or a break from the kids, etc.) Often you have to force yourself to do it, when you really don't want to... but if you do it then you feel a sense of accomplishment and it makes u feel more positive.

Also wanted to add... when I force myself to try and make myself feel nice (wearing makeup, painting nails, wearing sexy undies etc.) then it will sometimes pick up my libido a bit

Edited by Janey77

First off **hugs**, second, I have had to cut my computer time down heaps, i was getting way behind on things and spending good time with the kids. All the suggestions up top sound great, I will have to give some ago