Now in my early 40s it’s really hitting home that it’s soooooo essential to keep an eye on these 4 elements.
My water intake during the week is ok (2 liters per day) as I’m sat at my desk, but goes out the window at weekends and I really notice it in terms of my attention, headaches, bad breath, skin loooking grey.
A few late nights working on big project stuff has meant less sleep than I’d like - I look so much older, I feel really lethargic, like jet-lag.
Go out for a drink, like 2-3 glasses of wine, and look like I’ve been dug-up the next day.
Have a take away pizza and feel sluggish for a few days.
I know I’m biologically getting past my prime, and I’ve never been particularly good at looking after myself but not massive unhealthy either - but just how delicately balanced this all is has really hit home.
We don’t eat that much processed food and generally cook from scratch, though do have a very sweet tooth. But I notice how I feel physically icky after crisps or chocolate or cake so it feels like I’d need to eat super clean and healthy the entire time in order to feel ok.
Likewise with sleep, one or two late nights (eg 6 hours of sleep) and I feel like a zombie for a week. But now the kids are a bit older (6 and 9) my evenings are shorter due to their bedtime being later and it would be just a cycle of work/sleep/work/sleep if I go to bed at a decent time and not get any switch off time.
I know I’m coming at this late in terms of starting to look after myself, but it feels like it will be such an effort and sacrifice to anything treat/fun to get the right amount of sleep, eat well, hydrate sufficiently etc.
And don’t get me started on time to exercise! I am desperate to exercise but other than getting up at 6am I can’t fit it in. And I can’t get up that early unless I’m asleep by 10:30 which as I mention above, with work, kids, husband, Netflix, life admin, speaking to friends and family, feels impossible.