This thing called life…… So many ups and downs. It’s fascinating how the brain works, sometimes we can feel so happy, full of positivity and in a click of a finger we can feel so low, feel deflated, feeling depressed, feeling like nothing is going our way.
I get this quite a lot, the best way I can describe it is like a yo-yo, you know those things you used to play with when you were kids. The yo-yo goes up and down, up and down, up and down. Well, sometimes I feel like a yo-yo because I can be up and down. I obviously hate being so up and down but on the positive side I am aware of how I am feeling, I’m aware of what is going on around me and I’m aware that it is just a feeling and that feeling will pass, but it will only pass if I make it pass, if I get up and do something to help these negative feelings turn into positives.
This week has been one of those weeks where I was feeling up and down, being myself up about things that didn’t really matter, to begin with, so this weekend I was determined to not allow myself get down over the weekend, so I mapped out my whole weekend for myself and the kids.
I asked myself what makes me happy, what makes me feel good inside and it is when I’m outdoors, when I’m on adventures, so I decided to do just that. I spend most of my weekend outdoors.
Saturday I took the kids to Malahide Castle for some fun in the playground, It is free, cheerful and lots to do. They had lots of fun, we always go there. We then went on a long stroll through the woods, threw lots of leaves at each other and simply skipped through the freezing cold woods looking at the lights, trees, and beautiful scenery. It was something so simple but yet so magical, I felt really good and the kids had a blast.
Sunday I had a few hours to myself as the kids were going with their Grandma so again I decided to do something for me, something I wanted to do that was good for the mind so I asked my friend to come to Glendalough in Wicklow for walks along the lake, and we did just that, The weather was so beautiful, cold but still beautiful. Walking uphill listening to the water was so therapeutic, there is something about being by the water that just cleanses the mind, it instantly makes you feel calm and at peace.
This weekend was full of walking outdoors and taking in nature, embracing all of what was around me, good people, beautiful scenery and it literally was what the doctor ordered.
One thing I have learned is that we need to make time for ourselves, it is so important to switch off and do something you love for you. Life is busy and we tend to lose ourselves along this busy mom/work life. My advice is this. When you know you have a few hours to yourself so something you love, not something the kids love do something YOU love, get out of the house, leave the cleaning, leave the ironing, whatever you do get out of the house, because if you are anything like me you will start cleaning or waging, and that can always be done later but in your free time where you are kid-free make sure you get out and do whatever makes you feel good.
This weekend has thought me to appreciate and value my spare time more and to do more that is going to help my mind. We live in a very pressurized society and it takes its toll on our mental health, look after your mental health so it doesn’t control you.
Have a great week ahead
Emma XxX