For some reason, I’ve been really tired lately. And I don’t mean that whole lull-in-the-afternoon thing. No, I mean yawning, head-lolling, wonder-if-I-can-stay-awake-to-drive-home kind of fatigue.
This is sooo not me.
After a month or so of this silliness, I decided to go see my doctor. The appointment was today. I LOVE my internist: my appointment was for 9:40. I arrived at 9:20, was ushered back to the room at 9:25. The nurse weighed me, shooting me a look as she made note of the number.
“Hey, I went to Europe okay? Have you tasted the pasta in Rome, the potato-thingies in Prague? And the wine, did I mention the wine?” I whined all the way back to the ice-chamber doctors colloquially call the exam room.
The nurse talked to me for few minutes, jotting notes, then the doctor walked in at 9:37… yes, that would be three minutes EARLY! God love him. And, yes, he’s always like this.
Now, we’ve known each other for a while and, to be honest, we were fast friends from the time we met. His muscles were a bit larger than mine, but we attacked life the same way. And, I expected at least a hint of sympathy from him.
So, he glanced at the clipboard and his nurse’s notes then looked up at me with a sly smile. “So you’re tired, huh?”
“Totally draggin’.”
“It might help if you learned some restraint.” He arched one eyebrow at me…yes, without one drop of sympathy.
“Have you been lurking on my Facebook page?” I narrowed my eyes at him—this was not going how I thought it would. “Is this your interpretation of a tough-love bedside manner?”
He shot me a smirk. “Seriously, you suffer from a triple Type-A personality. It’s bound to take a toll. You should slow down.”
“What? I need to pay you for advice I get from my mother for free?”
“Did you take her advice?”
Of course not.
Seriously, how can I slow down? I have a book hitting the shelves May 14th, and another one due August 1st…and then there’s the blogging, the Facebooking, the tweeting, the looping, the promoting, the talk shows, the book events, the signings, the traveling, the book clubs, the book groups, the contests, the giveaways, the emails… I’m dying here.
I need help.
You see this whole thing plays into my more-is-better personality. Yes, I’m a believer in all things in excess—which creates all manner of problems. But, this is not the forum. Anyway, clearly, I don’t know where to draw the line, or apparently, how to say “enough.”
I’m sorta new to this writing game, still traversing the learning curve and I am overwhelmed. As a truly social being, I love chatting with everyone, fellow authors, readers, goofy guys from upstate NY, or New Mexico, or D.C. or wherever. And my very supportive publisher is sending me on the road. I can’t wait, but….
You know, I’ve asked God for an extra twelve hours each day, but she hasn’t gotten back to me.
So, my doc listened to my whining with half an ear. Then he drained me of a few pints…said he would look at all the “markers.” But, to be honest, I think he did it just to slow me down.
It worked..for a half-day.
As you read this, I will be in Pittsburgh for the Festival of Mystery sponsored by the Mystery Lover’s Bookshop–it’s an amazing event. Yesterday, I was in Phoenix for cozyCon2 sponsored by the Poisoned Pen Bookstore and the Phoenix Library System. Tomorrow…Texas, then California, then Colorado, then….you get the idea. I love every moment…but still….
So, in this crazy world of writing and reading, living and laughing, and shameless self-promotion, where do you draw the line? And how did you figure out where that line would fall?
Orange juice. When I was burning the candle at every possible end – working 7-6 M-F and doing the wedding videographer on the weekends – I drank a ton of orange juice just to keep from falling over. (Because hey, after a while, coffee eats a hole in your stomach and plus, it gives you the jitters so when you finally crawl into bed at 3 am, you can’t sleep.) OJ. Besides, it can’t hurt to give it a try.
OJ–never thought of that! I’m trying to get the eating thing under control…but who has the time:) Does OJ with Champagne work:)
Doing the wedding videographer THING on the weekends… I was NOT doing a videographer. (Sheesh… I should do a better job of proofing comments first thing in the morning.) More coffee… STAT!
Oh, but doing a videographer would probably have been a bit more….restorative:)
Tired? Oh yeah. We just try to do too much. Remember Father Knows Best? She would meet him at the door wearing pearls. Her house was always spotless. But I’m not sure she ever left the house. 🙂
Father Knows Best…even that title can make me reach for a weapon these days…:) Never left the house! Solitary confinement…appropriate for a woman like that:) Bet she had a lot of interesting things to say at dinner. Oh wait, that was during the era where women were supposed to be seen and not heard….
I know how to say no. My husband doesn’t. I watch my schedule closely, because I know I get exhausted and stressed if there is too much on it. Don’t get me wrong; I get that run down feeling, too. My sister’s thyroid gave out at my age so whenever I’m feeling particularly run down I have the doc check it. Nothing so far. The exhaustion is just me. 🙂
No…there’s a word I am incorporating into my vernacular. But, I think I’m just having so much fun with the whole writing gig that I want it to continue. To do that, I need to sell books. Since no one knows what exactly does that (besides writing a good story), I keep trying to do everything….yes, this too shall pass. Life goes on. And I will write as I have always done….
Perhaps I’ve always been able to do the mind over matter thing and now, ahem, age, is catching up with me. And a cabin up near the Russian River is looking more and more appealing…to this Vegas gal. Scary….
And my thyroid gave out decades ago…..
Aging bites.
Research Far Infrared Light Therapy. Many benefits, not the least of which is for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I had a treatment done last week (for another reason) and definitely noticed an increase in my energy level.
I’m a supplement gal…I’ve been taking NAC (super antioxidant precursor) for years, and now I take it with other amino acids in a formula called SeroVital…it’s supposed to increase your HGH (human growth hormone levels). I immediately noticed an improvemnt in my sleep, and I feel more energized in the mornings.
And I agree with other commenters that the word “no” is a magical rejuvenator!
Nap. 20-30 mins is all.then I get up and get back too it..any longer I’m more tired. Good luck!