How to Take Care of Yourself During Infertility
Infertility is all consuming, isn't it? It's true when people tell you that it feels like a full time job.
You have appointments (sometimes more than one per week), you have a scheduled time to administer meds, you (may) have a certain diet or food restriction, your activities (may) be limited, and so on.
And that's just the logistical side of infertility. It doesn't even cover the emotional, mental, or financial aspect. But take all of this and add this onto your other everyday life tasks such as meal planning, budgeting, going to the grocery store, going to work, going to the gym, meeting up with friends, etc. and you'll start to feel really bogged down.
THIS is what we're talking about when we say that infertility is all consuming. It consumes so much of your life which can make it really hard to remember to take care of yourself. So, I'm here to serve as your reminder to take care of yourself and to walk you through a few simple ways to do just that.
First of all, let's think about the things that you really need right now. What are you in need of this season? Are you in need of more community and time with friends? Are you feeling run down and in need of some peace and calm? Are things feeling rocky with your spouse?
Figure out what you're missing. Maybe go for a walk or start journaling about how you feel and see what comes up. Figuring out what you need is the most important step to helping you care for yourself.
Secondly, let's put that into action. You figured out what you were in need of, so now we really need to take that need and put it into something that can be beneficial for you. If you said you were in need of community, ask a friend to meet for dinner or coffee. Or maybe join a local small group, maybe through church to lift your spirits and provide community. If you said you were feeling run down, maybe you could plan a day trip to somewhere that makes you feel at peace like the lake, beach, or mountains. If you need something closer to home, book a massage or spa treatment. Or maybe it may be that you just need to shut off your phone and snuggle up with a good book. If you and your spouse are feeling rocky, plan a spontaneous date night or intimate weekend away to rekindle your relationship.
Coming up with the actual thing that will make you feel better is half the battle, but you can do this!
And finally, whatever you figured out- DO IT. Make the appointment, book the hotel, go for the walk, pick up the book, call the friend. Treat this as a non-negotiable thing in your week and make it happen. I know sometimes we can brush off dinner with a friend if we're feeling too tired or sometimes our brain tricks us into thinking that an intimate getaway is more work than it's worth. I want to encourage you to TAKE THE STEP. Put this on your weekly list and treat is as though it's as important as paying your water bill or mortgage.
Don't let this slide because you deserve this. You deserve to do things that make you happy and you deserve to have special time for yourself, especially in a season of life that is exhausting on all fronts.
But don't stop here, let's take it a step further. What about your spouse? Could they use some time for themselves? Maybe take some time this week to encourage them to go to dinner with a friend or ask if they want to go for a walk.
I know that some days it's hard enough to just get out of bed, let alone plan something "fun." I get it and I see you. But don't let this season of life take you down. I encourage you to take control and put yourself first. You and your body deserve it!
If you're looking for some ways to help you take care of yourself during this season, I got you covered! Here are a few products from the shop that may be beneficial for you:
Meditations for Seasons of Waiting