So it’s coming towards the end of the half term break and what have I done? Honestly? Not a huge amount really! Do I feel guilty? Nope! There have been days when my Fitbit hasn’t vibrated because I haven’t reached the goal of 10000 steps, there have been days when I have gone over my recommended calorie intake. Do I care? Nope!

Don’t get me wrong I have done stuff. I’ve seen friends, spent time with the husband, my folks have been down so I’ve spent time with them. But I haven’t over exerted myself – by any stretch of the imagination!

When it got to the summer holiday I was worried about my activity levels – but that was because it was a 6 week period. I’ve had a crazily busy half term, and the next half term is even crazier. Therefore it was really important that I had a rest. It was the right thing to do at this time.

One thing I have done this week is change my running route! I really didn’t want to, I liked my route, it was flat, it was circular, it was familiar. BUT the husband wasn’t too happy about me running down unlit footpaths at night on my own – spoil sport! So I’m now having to run on main roads, unfortunately this means hills as well. But at this time of year it was the right thing to do. But the route I have been doing was right for that time, it was that route that first enabled me to do 5k! 

That’s what this whole journey has been about for me. Working out the right thing to do at the right time. But most importantly recognising when that needs to change.

We see it in the classroom all the time, changing groups or lessons depending on the pupils/the content/the aim! Why are we so unwilling to change things in our own lives?

I’ve changed a lot of things since January, my eating, my exercising, my drugs, my church, my habits, my work ethic, my hobbies to name but a few. But even as I look at that list I think about how many times I have changed those things since January, and yet prior to January I’m not sure how often those things changed.

We have seasons in nature, and we change the clothes we wear accordingly. Not only did I change my running route but also my running gear – I am now high viz! We go through personal seasons as well, but do we change our lifestyle accordingly?

It is so easy to look at what each other is doing and to think ‘oh that’s working for them, it must work for me’ but that is not the case. Our seasons are different, and we need to recognise what we need to do at what time.

It was important that I took time out this week to rest, so that when I go back to work on Monday I am rejuvenated and ready to go. Ready to hit my walking goals everyday and stay in or below the calorie goals. It was also important that I didn’t feel guilty for having that rest. If there is anything I have learnt since January – and I have learnt a lot – it’s to listen to my body. It’s taken me a while but I’ve got there in the end.

Now to enjoy the rest of the rest before enjoying the madness that is the Christmas term!