Sick Days and How I’ve Been Coping

Sick days = extra snuggles with this cutie! <3

I haven’t been feeling super well this past week (thus, the lack of blog posts. I usually have a couple weeks worth of posts ready to go, but not this week) - it’s been a strange combination of exhaustion, being on my period, sore all over, and getting a cold. And my house, my normal routine, and some big projects that I wanted to tackle have been left on the shelf. Rather than let myself get discouraged about the lack of productivity around here, I thought I’d write up a few things that I have been doing this past week.

Extra TV/YouTube I usually don’t watch full movies while Kris is at work, but I’ve been enjoying some Christmassy movies and extra YouTube time during the day. I snuggle up with the baby (who doesn’t seem to mind) and a warm cup of tea. I do try to get a few things done in the morning before turning on the TV, so I don’t feel too lazy.

Naps If I’m really not feeling well, I’ll try to get a short nap in while baby Kristopher sleeps. Even half an hour of sleep is refreshing. I’m not always able to go to sleep, so in that case I’ll snuggle up in bed with a book and read for half hour to forty-five minutes.

Extra Time with the Baby Not feeling well is a good excuse for spending extra one-on-one time with little Kristopher. We’ve been reading books, playing, and wrestling together more which has been fun!

Do Only the Most Necessary Housework Around here, that would be the kitchen mostly in order, our bedroom put together, bathrooms cleaned (at least weekly), and litter box cleaned out every other day. Straightening up the living room and doing laundry are relaxing to me, so I like to do those as well. There are certain times of the day when I’m feeling a little more energetic, so I’ll save my housework for then.

Simple Lunches and Dinners I’ve been doing meal planning, which helps knowing there is something on the menu for dinner, but I’m keeping it really simple. We bought a pizza one night, went out to eat another night, eaten lots of breakfast for dinner (generally quick and easy meals) and leftovers.

Let Extra Things Go Like my blog, extra cleaning, or the painting I wanted to start in the nursery.

Do What You Can, When You Can I’ve been finding that some times of the day, I just have zero energy and an hour later, I’ll be feeling just fine. So I’m trying to loosen up and give myself some slack when I’m really not feeling well, then try to just do what’s necessary when I am feeling better. I’ve had to cancel some things this past week, but still been able to go to Bible study and have my sister and her kids over. I find that if I don’t do anything, I feel bad physically and bad about myself.

Not every day this past week has looked the same - some days I’ve hardly moved from the couch and others I’m actually completing my to-do list. I’m just slowly moving forward and giving myself lots of grace.

Kris has been so sweet taking care of me over the last few days, insisting I take naps and helping out with cooking. He’s the best!

What are some things you all do when you aren’t feeling well? I would also love to hear ideas for taking care of older/multiple children when mom’s a little under the weather.