Search Results for: blog what else does exhaustion do to you

Listening to Your Body (and Interpreting the Message)

Two out of the last three days, I was attacked by a ninja. A ninja nap. It snuck up on me after my usual post-work routine: walk the dogs, feed the dogs, feed myself. I found my limbs sluggish and my eyes heavy, so I gave into the ninja nap. Three hours later, I woke up. (Both times.) Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes a nap catches me off-guard. I’ve got things planned, work to do… but I find myself sinking down into sleep instead. It can throw off my whole schedule for the rest of the day, but sometimes … Continue reading →

More Proof that Exercise Helps You Sleep

This message couldn’t come at a better time for me: I’ve been having a hard time falling asleep. Bedtime comes and I’m tired (or so I think) — but then I sit there staring at the ceiling for a good hour before shuffling off to snoozeland. Maybe more exercise is the answer. It certainly works for kids. A new study from the University of Auckland in New Zealand found that the more activity kids get, the faster they fall asleep at night. And the converse is true, too: the more sedentary a child is, the longer it takes them to … Continue reading →

Don’t be a Doormat

Let’s face it, we single parents get tired; we get run down and overwhelmed once in a while and there are days when we just get tired of putting up a constant fight. Whether it is coming from our kids who are pushing us to get their own way, and Ex who is pushing or harassing us to give in to his or her demands, or things going on at work or in other areas of our lives, I do think it is important to stand our ground. While you may not want to fight, it is important not to … Continue reading →

What Else Does Exhaustion Do to You?

A few days ago, I took a good look at myself and how being tired changes me. I get cranky, I get over-emotional, I eat more, and I get clumsy. And I’m not alone. Research has looked at how your body changes when you’re low on sleep. Sleep deprivation makes you crave junk food. Your body will be craving more calories than you actually need — especially in the form of sugars and starches. Just two nights of sleep deprivation makes your body produce more hunger hormones and fewer appetite suppressing hormones. Sleep deprivation makes your stress hormones spike. Cortisol … Continue reading →

What Does Exhaustion Do to You?

This is a totally subjective question. What does exhaustion do to you? Here’s what it does to me: Exhaustion makes me cranky. I tend to get very short tempered with people when I’m over-tired. Things come out much more sharply than I intend. I am brisk with friends and family. Exhaustion makes me clumsy. Yesterday, I dropped a full pitcher of iced tea (that I had just made) in the sink. No more iced tea! I’ve also made the mistake of taking a glass class — making pendants on a torch — when I was over-tired. I ended up dropping … Continue reading →

Don’t Take On Too Much!

I know that I am running the risk of lecturing some brick walls here, but take it from someone who knows and who has definitely been there—as single parents, it is important that we don’t let ourselves take on too much! I’m serious. I know it seems a little silly to be trying to tell the very people who get used to running around with heapingly full plates to take it easy; and I’m not really giving you permission to let everything drop and NOT do all the tasks, obligations, and responsibilities that come with a single parent family—I’m just … Continue reading →

Difficulty Sleeping

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My daughter Jessie has been having issues with sleeping lately. I feel so bad for her, especially since she was always a good sleeper. Jessie joined our family when she was nine months old. She transitioned beautifully. We could put her in her crib and she’d flop over onto her tummy and sleep peacefully for 12 hours or more. Pumpkin was a foster baby in our home when Jessie came. Since Jessie has been here, four children have come and gone. We’ve done our best to cushion the blow of changes in the family. We reiterate how she is our … Continue reading →

A Day In The Life Of A Pregnant Woman

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1am – Wake up, search for the body pillow that fell to the floor. Spend five minutes getting comfortable. Drift back to sleep. 1:06am – Your eyes fly open. You run to the bathroom. 2:30am – Wake up to carefully roll over and adjust the pillow between your knees. 6:15am – You realize you cannot lay in bed another minute because your back is aching. Even if your back didn’t hurt, your bladder is about to explode. 6:30am – While reaching for the bag of coffee beans, you remember you kicked the caffeine habit and begrudgingly reach for the apple … Continue reading →

Pain and Sleep

In a way, pain is a good thing: it is the body’s way of saying that something is wrong, and giving you a general idea of where the problem is. But pain can mess with your appetite, concentration, sleeping habits, and more. Sometimes, pain makes you want (or need) more sleep. If you are sick or injured, you need time to rest and heal! There are some types of pain that make me want to snooze — mostly headaches. Often, I’ll try taking a nap to see if I can sleep the headache off before resorting to pain relievers. Though … Continue reading →

The Best Time of Day

Are you a morning person or a night owl? Throughout my school years, I was a morning person. I arranged my college schedule to have class in the mornings and afternoons free. I’d still rather do the bulk of my thinking in the early part of the day and leave the after-lunch hours for less brain-intensive activities. Brain power can actually wax and wane as the day progresses! Researchers have looked at the “best” times of day for different activities, based on brain chemistry. Early mornings (like the first few hours after you wake up) are the best time for … Continue reading →