Fighting the Uncomfortable Urge to Move
When you read the title, where does your mind go? In my opinion it could go one of two ways.
The first route your mind may travel to is the inability to sit still and “do nothing”. A lot of us are probably this way in our day to day lives. When we are sick and have to just sit there and “rest” we can’t. We know it’s going to be better for our health and allow for a quick recovery, but we want to take advantage of our time “off” and do the errands we wait to do on the weekend or catch up on our laundry. (We Americans are something. Our society here in the U.S. cares too much about work and not enough about our mental well being, health, and importance of family time, but that’s for another time and another blog post). Can I get an Amen!
What I’m getting to, is we don’t know how to not move. We don’t know how to sit back and enjoy the moments and appreciate the simple things life offers us each day; like the way the sun shines through the cracks of the sky when it’s a cloudy day or enjoy the love from our pets.
On the other-hand, the other possible route your mind may go to is fighting restlessness. Through a Google search of, “Why do I feel angry when I am restless” it says, “When someone is experiencing restlessness, they often describe it as a feeling “on edge” or having an “uncomfortable urge to move”.”
I haven’t been quite able to explain what this feeling of restlessness has felt like recently, but that pretty much summed it up perfectly. I personally have dealt with insomnia off and on throughout my life, but the restlessness… and this level of agitation and irritability while trying to sleep, is like nothing I have ever felt or experienced before. My body, no, my nervous system is feeling the nerves literally bounce around while I am trying to rest my tired little head on a pillow. Like c’mon can a girl get some beauty rest?! I want to lay here but it’s 1:46 am and all I want to do is kick my legs and go on a mile run as fast as I can. So how do I help myself because I am definitely not going on a run haha. Why am I having this discomfort and urge to move?
Several Google searches later, a million tosses and turns, and some late night snacking to try to help, I have learned some ways to help myself and hopefully ways to help you if you’re reading this.
Exercise and stretch
Increase Iron intake through food or supplements ( raise your hand if your anemic!)
e.g. red meat, spinach and or iron supplement with vitamin C
Get a massage (when I read this I found this as a perfect excuse to sign myself up for one)
Work on stress levels… exercise, walking counts! Gym membership is not required. Journaling your inner thoughts, praying to whomever you see as the Divine, do a sound bath, or just sit in the sun to increase your Vitamin D.
Read a book- not a book that is going to give you more to do or think about, but one that is lighthearted and humorous.
Watch your diet; decrease your sugar and caffeine intake.
I just signed up to do an Energy Healing and Ayurvedic Consultation Session and I honestly don’t know what to expect but I am looking forward to it. (I will report back)
To talk more about number 7 if you haven’t already, watch Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow and then watch the Heal Documentary, both on Netflix. You won’t regret it!
Lastly, book a flight short or long distance it doesn’t matter but give yourself a break from your current reality and make travel a part of your reality. It’s just good for the soul.
Moral of the story whether you have a hard time sitting still or you are trying to fight the urge to move both paths lead us to decreasing the stress in our bodies and intuitively acting on what your body needs whether that is with your diet or anything mentioned above. Take deep breaths, enjoy the moments and remember that these moments aren’t here forever. If you do this it will allow you to slow down, reduce your uncomfortable restlessness and/or lead you to become a more healthy, less stressed, and deep sleeper (one can only hope haha).
So take time to smell the roses and seize the day! Treat your mind, body and soul, like you treat your best friend and remember it’s okay to do nothing.