Health before Comfort

I spent some time reflecting on my health over the weekend. Some of you may have seen my post on Instagram or Threads outlining how I frankly felt like crap and was suffering. (And yes, I am trying to extend my social media use. With mixed effects)

I’m way less active on either Threads or Instagram than I am on Facebook – familiarity is a big deal here. But I felt the need to post widely about yesterday. Because there were a few things at play.

1. I felt like absolute crap. And I do as well this morning. My entire system was out of whack. Headache, dizziness, blurry vision… there was a lot going on.
2. I still feel fairly crap today. Not quite as bad, but I have resorted to painkillers.
3. I also made a list of things to achieve yesterday and got it all done. Including having a shower, which helped more than you’d think!
4. This is a combination of not looking after myself in general right now and having some sort of sinus thing going on.

New mantra

To help me cope with this, I’ve come up with a new mantra. “Health before Comfort”.

Some of you have been on the journey with me over the last few years. I have been actively working on my mental health. But the time has come to come back to physical health now as well. Not as in injury recovery, like I have been doing, but more like a holistic view of my physical health.

This winter, I don’t know what it is, but I’ve been suffering headaches and sinus infections a lot. (To be fair, the headaches come with the sinus problems) Now, look, I know there are all sorts of co-relations between different energetical systems about what that means, but I work of one I’ve developed with Brigid that works for me, so let me continue on that path for now.

Sinuses for me are usually lack of water. But equally mean I’ve been eating too much food. Or at least too much food that doesn’t agree with me. It’s accompanied by digestive discomfort – got it – and a certain level of other symptoms. (Again, not looking for diagnosis).

So, I’ve come up with a new mantra. “Health before Comfort”.

Health before Comfort

Now, I spent years getting to a place where I was comfortable with comfort. Seriously – even recognising that I was comfortable or uncomfortable was a major achievement.

I’ve changed my wardrobe, my bedding, my shoes… all in the name of adding comfort to my life.

So, why would I put something else first?

Because it’s all too easy to take the easy way out for me. As in – getting comfortable but not making myself slightly uncomfortable in order to make progress on something. Like engaging with getting my steps in every day. Right now, getting my steps in every day means going for an actual walk most days. It’s not happening. Why? Well, there’s no immediate downside to not going for a walk and it’s cold and rainy out, so it’s uncomfortable to actually go.

Comfort over health.

I decided to change things at the weekend. Health before comfort now.

How though?

Well, here’s the thing. I don’t know yet. I’m looking for an accountability partner, but haven’t found one yet. And I know I have plenty of friends who would support me, it’s not really a friend I want for this. Because it’s too easy for them to actually hold me accountable only on the easy days.

And it’s not the best time of year to start with an accountability coach. They’re all gearing up for the January New Year New Me thing. (I have issues with this!) But waiting til after Christmas, after January isn’t sensible either.

So I’m starting now. I’m aiming for my 9000 steps a day. Protein rich breakfast. And setting alarms for tuning in throughout the day so I can recognise both comfort and discomfort in my body and do something about both.

Right now?

I’m off to get some painkillers. Cos this headache isn’t going anywhere fast and I need to clear it before I lose the cool at work. Which is also far too hot today and not helping matters!!

So a cold drink as well…