Recently, my studio flooded.
What was supposed to be a normal day of work turned into a full-blown cleanup operation. It was overwhelming, to say the least.
Ten minutes into the chaos, I found myself upstairs cleaning the grout lines in our bathroom. Yep, scrubbing grout while a flood soaked the downstairs.
It realised as I was doing it that it was a very odd thing to do, but I’ve realised why I was drawn to it. When everything felt overwhelming and out of control, I instinctively turned to something small, manageable, and satisfying- something I could control. That sense of accomplishment gave me a little hit of calm amidst the chaos.
And you know what? I see this same pattern with women, especially mums, when it comes to exercise.
- Overwhelm kicks in.
- You’re not sure where to start.
- You believe it will feel hard or uncomfortable.
- You feel like you don’t have time.
So instead, you fold the laundry. Or prep dinner. Or reorganise the pantry.
It’s easy to convince ourselves that these things are more important. But are they really?
Or are they just a distraction?
A way to feel in control and get that quick sense of satisfaction, while avoiding the thing that might actually matter most?
Here’s a question to reflect on this week:
Are the tasks you’re choosing truly more important than your self-care, or are they just offering you a sense of control?
You deserve to feel good in your body. You deserve strength, confidence, and energy for everything you juggle.
Stay strong. This time of year is a lot!