I best recharge when I am alone, but I am NEVER alone. A few hours in a month is not enough for me to get myself back together, but I have to learn to do that.
I've been through a lot -- tumor, losing my mother, losing my grandmothers, a major surgery before my senior year at university, a major surgery barely a week after giving birth, having told I shouldn't get pregnant because we might not survive it, having a stent in my body, etc. -- but raising a little human has been the toughest one. IT NEVER ENDS.
I also usually delude myself that I can do regular things "expected" from a stay-at-home mom. Reality is that I cannot cook daily (which involves washing dishes, even if the hubby helps a lot), clean up the toys and the house regularly, or even do the laundry and fold the clothes three times a week, all while keeping up with an active kid. When I try to do that, I'd start of feeling good about myself thinking that I could finally pull it off, then I get so tired physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's a vicious cycle. Honestly, I feel like I can deal with mental stress better than with physical stress. Yet, I don't want to go back to regular employment and spend less time with my precious Mateo (I'm selfish that way).
I'm good with ideas and planning but poor with execution. I have to find that perfect balance of putting my plans into action. I think a bit part of doing all this is recognizing and accepting my limitation. It's brutal.
Still, here I am again with my plan and list: How to proactively deal with homemaking burnout.
1. Consider taking an omega-3 supplement
Maybe I should try fish oil/omega-3, which is among the few supplements I'm willing to take (not a fan of multivitamin/mineral supplements, unless prescribed). I've read somewhere that there's a good link between staving off depression and having a good dose of omega-3. I think I am still far from having depression, but perhaps it's a good precaution. And a form of self-care. Plus, there seems to be a ton of other benefits that fish oil offers.2. Eat out
Eating out is an option. It's going to be more expensive, but I'm slowly starting to accept that's better than wanting to cry from exhaustion. Fortunately, Singapore promotes healthy eating even at hawker centres, so yay for us.3. Eat healthy
Stop binging on chips (I blame Reymond for this). Do not overeat (I don't get fat easily -- I actually have a hard time gaining weight, so this one's just to keep myself from getting bloated). Eat more fruits and vegetables. Eat more dark chocolate. ;)4. Go to bed early
This is the key to getting up early and be more productive.5. Exercise
I may be skinny, but I love what exercise does to my energy. However, due to medical conditions, I have a number of limitations on what I can do. So, I've recently consulted my cousin (an expert) on what to do best. That's a step up from simply choosing among the many Darebee workouts that I think are suitable.6. Do not aim to be an efficient and effective homemaker
Leave the cleaning to Reymond. I'll only deal with the clutter.7. Take a break
Schedule a mid-year home vacation. I think that's the best time for a vacation apart from our Christmas home holiday.
How do people maintain an orderly home? I'm not even talking about pristine-clean houses, just those decent enough to welcome guests anytime. Am I asking too much?
