Hi Guys and welcome to my forty-sixth blog.

This week I did not think this blog was going to happen. Honestly. I am really very busy. Oh, my word, Hayles, you have told us this before, often. I am sounding like a stuck record. So, I am going to stop right there. I am sure you are all so over hearing me saying (on and on, again and again) that I am just totally frenetic. I, myself, am tired and bored with hearing me say this. It really is so very tedious and quite frankly, who gives a damn???

However, I decided that I would turn this story into a possible learning one for me, and hopefully for all of you, too.  What is quite cool about this blog is that it is all about my ideas and not anything I recently have researched.

Hang on, that may make you decide to stop reading right now. Oh, dear! there is a lot of great information on the internet on this, but I thought that perhaps you can add my thoughts to your research.

Let me proceed, forthwith.

I remember back in the day, well before the Rinderpest and when Covid was a mere twinkle in some bat’s eye when I was a young girl at school. I have always been a busy little bee and I remember well a schoolfriend of mine saying to me, Hayley you swim, you debate, you love public speaking, you play tennis, you are a prefect, your grades are fine and you are swimming captain, how do you do it? Okay guys, so please do not think that this was wow man. It certainly was not and were the truth to be told, I think this being busy just helped me bury a lot of stuff that I could not deal with at that time. So, it was really not a wow, she is terrific, sort of story. There was so much deeply hidden pain, but let us move along.

Well, I thought long and hard and did not have an answer for her, but many years later after the Rinderpest and while Covid was still a shining light, it dawned on me. I  must have read something, I certainly will not take credit for this popular proverb, but it pretty much sums up my thoughts and assessment of my story, and it goes like this, “if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it”. It certainly seemed to work for me, no matter the reason why.

Back to the present, well just before the present, when I was living the life of leisure. Honestly, I was. I treated 3 to 5 patients a week (the truth is out), I played bridge once a week, I played tennis when I was not injured, let’s not even go there), I joined an exercise workout group called Switch, I lunched, I coffee’d, I lay in the sun and it was all good.

Then, boom, out of the blue I took over a bustling practice, I succumbed to that dreadful little germ, I recovered and returned to work and am now treating about 35 -50 patients a week. I have partnered with Neolife, a wholefood nutrition supplements company, I have a nutrition practice and … this bloody blog. Only kidding, I do really find the blog quite cathartic, but may have to reduce the number that I publish monthly or make them less time-consuming.

Again, please, I do not want to bore you to death, as I said previously. It really is all about choice, but sometimes things are thrust upon you and you really do not have a choice. The acquisition of this new practice was one of them.

Anyway, I have always prided myself on my time management, and I am hyper (this is my word and I am sticking to it.) I reiterate the fact that I am just a girl, a physio, enjoying helping people to eat to live, and writing nonsense regularly. So, all that I write and say can not be taken as the law or gospel.

Moving along. I am busy and I drop the ball and I get cross and frustrated and I shout at Rich and I start with the “Woe is me” stuff, often, but the bottom line is that I am loving this journey and it is enhancing and fulfilling so many aspects of me and I am feeling so chuffed with it all.

So, what have I learned? It is still early days so my curve is still on the rise, but I have some thoughts.

1. I have a set strict morning routine. My lemon water, chatting to the dogs, and a cup of coffee, before I do anything. Usually, some form of movement, treadmill workout, stretches and aiming to do some yoga.
2. I listen to podcasts or watch YouTube as I exercise always. No more arbitrary TV.
3. I shop online a lot, for food for clothing or for stuff that I have not got the time to source otherwise.
4. I do not watch much TV anymore. Instead, I read or write or do statements or accounts with the dogs on one side and Rich on the other. He might watch TV or work on his laptop or sometimes read, so we are together.
5. I mostly have a Neolife shake for brekka on the go. Not first prize, but I know that it is providing me with the complete, balanced protein and carb meal that I require.
6. I use WhatsApp voice notes a lot, as long as it is the appropriate and respectful thing to do.
7. I am honestly not sweating much of the small stuff anymore, which then gives me more time.
8. I am strict during the week, whenever I can, about aiming for about seven hours of sleep. I must say that my Neolife Calmag has been amazing and my sleep has improved significantly.
9. I do not waste time. If I have a gap, I check my what’s app, messages, and missed calls, as this is how I get my new patients and clients, and make sure wherever possible that I deal with these as soon as possible.
10. I eat chocolate most night, mostly dark, but sometimes dairy and white. I have no idea how it is impacting my body and my skin but have not the time to worry. Another great thing!
11. I have time allotted for social media, and most of it is checking on what I have put on that is related to my brand, healingwithhayles, and this has saved me so much time.
12. My downfall is that I do not delegate enough, but this will come in time. My boys have been and are absolutely unbelievable, supportive, and just managing everything so well. I know they are adults and can, but I relished and revelled in the first few weeks of lockdown, the blissful family time, and happily prepared every meal that I could until I could not… they then took up the mantle and have been amazing ever since.
13. We are being strict regarding socializing and gone are the days, sadly, that we can manage four engagements on a weekend. This has definitely helped keep me productive and able to catch up on admin on a Saturday or Sunday. My initial worry that I may be neglecting my friends has been replaced by the thought that those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.
14. By focusing wholeheartedly on each patient, I am able to save time as I believe this facilitates time effective quality treatments.
15. I am afraid to say that I use foul language often, and quite shockingly, whilst driving in my motor vehicle. That is only when the other drivers irritate me. I, therefore, swear a lot. I have been known to sing loudly, too, but not that much. These release stress and tension big time. Doing this while in the car saves me time as I then do not do it at other times, mostly.
16. My regime of donning my white coat, mask, and visor for all patient treatments out of my practice, always seems to make me feel calm and together. That is a funny thing, isn’t it?
17. I am still time-obsessed, but I am being gentler on myself about this. For goodness sake, most of my patients are doing little else, so a few minutes of arriving late here and there is perfectly acceptable.
18. My regime of supplementation has honestly and truly got me through the horridness of Covid and the exhaustion that it hit me with. I do not need to punt my Neolife products and know that a lot of you are really happy with your supplementation regime, and that is great. Just make sure that your products are organic, backed by proper science, and based in nature.
19. I have quickly learned to prioritize according to the importance of a task and this has helped me tremendously.
20. This has probably become one of the most important things for me, I am kind to myself. I am well aware of the fact that I talk about this in most of my blogs, but it is vital. Take care of you and love you and forgive you and respect you and the rest will follow. Self-care, even a few minutes each day is so important, and I believe this has kept me going and managing and actually doing more than okay.

So, friends, I ran out of time this week. Be that as it may. I really hope that one or more of these hastily written thoughts and ideas may resonate with you. Today I have made the decision, from here on, to write my blogs as and when I feel like it, and this has honestly lifted a large load from my shoulders. I feel so relieved.

Take care and chat soon!

Tip number forty-five

If you are thinking of someone, connect with them. If you know someone is having a rough time, message them or just do something for them. Nothing is guaranteed, so act on your feelings and remember that random act of kindness may just make someone’s day and help them navigate their way through their stuff with a little more ease and a little more lightness.