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Striping, by Carol L. Douglas |
I can’t decide if I’m suffering from a cold, allergies, fatigue
or the ennui that sometimes settles in when I’m shifting gears and restless. The
barrier between our mind and our bodies is whisper-thin. Like many Americans, I’m
so trained to keep moving that it’s hard to recognize when I’m
sick.
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Parrsboro sunrise, by Carol L. Douglas |
The only way I can tell is by testing my body. Over the
years I’ve developed strategies for catapulting myself out of a fog. Most important
is routine. Every morning I write this blog, make my bed (so I can’t crawl back
into it) and fold clothes. These tasks wake me up. Then I go down to my studio.
My brain and body are conditioned to start concentrating at the same time every
day.
I cannot overstress the importance of this; it’s why your
lawyer, doctor, and insurance adjustor don’t have anxiety attacks every time
they approach their desks. The human body loves settled routine, and thrives on
regular sleep, exercise and work habits.
Tricky Mary in a Pea-Soup Fog, by Carol L. Douglas |
My mother believed you would start moving if you heard a
machine working, so she would start a load of laundry while she drank her
morning coffee. I’m afraid it doesn’t work for me, but it might for you.
Often what stops me is not knowing where to start. To
overcome that, I play a game of “put ten things away.” This is win-win, because
you’re either going to force yourself back into motion or you’re going to have
a very neat workspace. Ten is about my limit for being thoughtful about sorting,
and it’s better than making a commitment to clean.
Water is our bodies’ principal component. It comprises about
60 percent of our body weight. We can live a surprisingly long time without
food, but not without water. Fatigue can be caused by dehydration. None of us
drink enough fluids when traveling, so when I come back from being on the road,
I try to bring up my water intake as quickly as possible.
Marsh, by Carol L. Douglas |
Current wisdom says that the basic equation for determining how
much water you need is to divide your body weight in half. So, if you weigh 200
pounds, you would need 100 ounces of water per day. (I don’t know if this
is scientifically justified.) When I drink that much, I never have the luxury
of zoning out; I’m always planning my next toilet stop.
My last mental jog is a brisk walk. Exercise is a
proven anti-depressant and makes us more alert. Walking also gives me the
mental space to plan out my next steps.
What if I do all these things and I still don’t feel up to
working? That’s a vivid warning sign that what I’m feeling isn’t temporary
malaise but a true physical problem. I do what any sensible person would: I
take some time off to recover.
What works to get you out of the doldrums?
What works to get you out of the doldrums?