Girls finished school on Friday and we officially started summer break. Well, I am not taking leave yet but mentally I need a break ASAP and will lay out my plan for the rest of summer.
Saturday I had my 16 miles LR with second half faster than the first half. My energy was not there. While I finished the run as planned, i felt exhausted and took few hours to recover (high HR after the workout). It happens from time to time, that I don’t feel great after a run. I did what I knew to recover: rest (physically and mentally), refuel despite not feeling it, hydrate, and go to bed early to ensure enough sleep.
I had lunch with Lizzy by the pool, my golden combo: grain (bulgur), veg (broccoli), bean, and tofu.
Sofia had a birthday party, and I was brave enough to drive her. Then I watched a movie with Lizzy with microwaved popcorn to end the day.
Sunday: bike ride with Sofia followed by a treat. I love our casual chat. She prefers bike to run as we could chat while biking. I enjoy our chat so I let go of my wish to run with her.
I had a family over for lunch. Lizzy was super excited, she loves to have people over. I made puchero and braised pork with eggs, a salad, and cheese board. Sofia made fruit salad served with ice cream. The get together went well and we finished 4pm.
I also finished Sirens, last few episodes with the girls. I don’t think I get it or don’t like how it makes me feel: sad, dark, depressed.
Now into my mental reset plan.
The reason I need a reset is that I’ve been feeling tired for almost a month. My overnight RHR has been 5 beats higher and HRV lower than usual. This is despite by relative good sleep. While it’s possible that my work stress is the cause of this, I want to proactive reset and focus on mental rest for the next few weeks. Checking oura stats from earlier years, I’ve had sustained low readiness a few times. Coincidently, the last prolonged episode was Nov-Dec 2022, a month after we moved to Jakarta. I wish I had recorded what I did that time to calm my anxiety down. so this time, I want to record this episode and actions that I will take to support its recovery.
Reset plan
- Slowdown. Not feeling rushed. Now that the girls’ school ended. I don’t need to rush in the morning to catch the ride. I can start my run a bit late, shower, breakfast and go to office.
- Focus on one task. Simple, do not multi task.
- Put phone on DND during the office hours except communication channel with husband, and put phone away once I get home. Put the phone downstairs, not to the bedroom.
- Continue daily stretching routine (on day 30 out of 100), meditate 1-2 times a day.
- Wear Oura but do not check readiness for two weeks. Record how I feel and compare after two weeks. I am worried that low readiness score is making me more anxious. So will stop checking. I did this previously and helped.
- Ideal evening routine: walk around the neighborhood with the kids after dinner, then read together for at least 30 min before bed.
- Running? I am not sure about this yet, I’ll ask coach for advice, if I should turn it down intensity/duration/mileage or not.
Do you have a reset plan when you are under stress?
Our New Journey 
There is something so helpful about a reset! I’m glad your whole family is getting one.
You’ve had so much on your plate, so I’m not surprised you’re feeling run down. Hope the upcoming vacation and fun summer plans help reinvigorate you ❤
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Oh, a reset can be so great! I hope it is restorative and helpful for you. It sounds like a great plan to me.
Ooooh that bowl looks delicious!!!
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All sounds like a good plan! I have been working really hard to decrease constant “inputs”. Keeping my phone away from me is a big part of that, but it’s hard! Sometimes I get lazy and slip back into just having it by me again and then I fall back to the same habits of picking it up way too often. I do notice I feel calmer and just more centered and aware when I do keep my phone put away. I’ve also been trying to walk daily without my phone along at least once.
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GREAT idea to identify that you’re feeling stressed and do a voluntary reset, I think if we don’t do it proactively, our bodies will do it for us in the form of illness or injury. Moving is very stressful, so it makes sense that you’re feeling overwhelmed. Your reset strategies sound great. I hope you start to feel better soon!
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