Wake UP Sleepy Head!

Recently, I've been feeling a little lost. Every time I've tried to focus, whether on work, bills, the dishes, life in general or the things that need sorting from day to day, I've found myself hopping from task to task with no real ability to just put my attention to one matter and finish. I've also noticed that forgetfulness has crept in, making me feel quite useless. An example? A few weeks ago, I completely forgot to put a drink in my daughter's lunch or to give her any money to buy milk. I chastised myself for days about what a completely horrible a parent I had been for overlooking such an important detail. Not long after, I had a moment in the car when I looked around and thought, "Wait, where am I going?" I didn't forget the place I was driving to, but suddenly, my familiar surroundings weren't so familiar anymore and for the life of me I couldn't remember where to turn to go to the grocery store that I frequent at least twice a week.

But, why? Nothing much has changed. Things are as they have been for weeks, months, probably even years. The morning holds the same routine: wake up, make everyone's breakfast, have a few cups of coffee, make lunches, stuff backpacks, drive kids to school, go to work. Of course, afternoons aren't different. Just reverse the order and insert dinner for breakfast. Same old, same old. So what, pray tell, was my problem? I had to ask myself what was causing all the scatter-brained antics that seemed out of character? Was I losing my ever loving mind or just going through a phase? And as I was going over all the above, tedious, uninteresting, lackluster, tiresome and mind numbing scenarios my head, it hit me. I'm bored. No, wait. I am bored as hell! My brain is telling me in a very urgent way that I am way overdue for some change, or rather, an intellectual challenge.

The constant routine of everyday life can really take its toll both physically and mentally. We get up to the same alarm each morning and go about doing the same things over and over again, never even varying the routes we drive. Just as a house that receives no notice becomes dusty, a mind that lacks a little excitement every now and then grows cobwebs of its own. Often, we think of the physical and environmental things around us that need attention because we see the toll that negligence takes. But our intellectual wellbeing needs our attentiveness, too. Intellectual wellness is an integral part of the 7 Aspects of Wellness and balanced living is almost unachievable without it.

The more I explored this idea, the more I realized how much an active mind does for my mental outlook. Intellectual challenge is quite stimulating, invigorating even. It's a step outside of the norm that wakes up the tired synapses in my brain, forcing them to fire their electric impulses across one another, generating critical thought and making me feel, well, alive. I can remember in college when I groggily rolled into my 8:00am philosophy class, still rubbing sleep out of my eyes when my professor would launch into his lecture for the day. Furiously, I scrawled down notes and as my mind came to life, so did my body. I would leave his class feeling alert with a fresh outlook on the day, and not because I had a greater understanding of what drove Diogenes to run naked in the streets, but because my mind was crisp, awake and had received nourishment in the form of independent thought.

This last week, I've made a conscious effort to stimulate my hungry mind. Instead of turning on the T.V. in the evening, I've started reading again. I've also started forcing myself out of bed just five minutes earlier to see how far into the newspaper crossword puzzle I can get before the kids wake up. You know what? I actually feel better; more prepared, more aware, more vigilant and ready to tackle whatever the day may bring. And that, my friends, is a very good feeling.

Kym Wilson
123 Feel Better Wellness Advisor
http://www.123feelbetter.net/
Make today a life changing event!