If you had 4 weeks...

[kadi]

If you had 4 weeks off work and you will need to stay at home & not travel, what would you do to improve your health/wellbeing with IC?

I will have 4 or 7 weeks off for summer vacation this year. I'd really hoped to travel, but I'm on the transfer list to work at a new school this Fall. I have to wait for the vacancies list to pick my new work site and assignment. No one knows when the list will be ready. Sooo, I can't make plans to be out of town because I need to be here to get my new assignment. And I don't know if I'll have 4 weeks off or 7 weeks off (depends if I get a job at a year-round school or one on traditional schedule), so I don't know when my vacation wil end.

So, I'm thinking, to make the best of this "stay-cation", to focus on improving my health. Any suggestions for a daily routine or things to do that might help with my IC, muscle pain, and stress level?

[ICNDonna]

Retail therapy! Pack a lunch and take it and a book to a local park. Sleep late, wear a robe until noon, then shower and relax..... Go to a movie or bring a movie home.

I hope you get the answer quickly. I know it's difficult.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[bubbe1]

if you had four weeks

I like Donna's idea of lounging in robe until mid-day, with no guilt involved.
If you can do small things around the house that won't stress your body but might make you feel happier, that's could work.
If you don't already, maybe try learning to meditate.
Take long, or short, walks.
If you have a pet, spend more time with it, I find that so soothing. If you don't, would you like a 15 year old poodle who is very sweet but also spoiled rotten(our Zachie)?!
Do you garden at all?
Try some new recipes.
Whatever you decide, enjoy!
Laurie

[klite]

After completing my PhD, I had to take my "4 weeks off." I'm still in rest-mode, technically, as I'm only able to work part time at the moment (but getting stronger and healthier by the week).

My recovery plan (when I stick to it!): reading (I love SF!), going for walks in the park, learning new safe recipes, watching silly TV shows in afternoon (when my energy is lowest), gardening, finding new music and listening to it with no distractions, visiting friends, organizing those forgotten corners of the house

Basically, when in rest mode, I try to do at least one or two productive things (like gardening, cooking, vacuuming, etc) in the morning/early day and then in the afternoon, I read, sit and contemplate, or watch a TV show. That way, my body feels good from moving around, but then rests, and I don't feel guilty about not having accomplished anything (because I did *something* positive, like the gardening, walk, or chores).

Good luck in finding the right balance for yourself Kadi!

[kadi]

Thank you all for your suggestions I also just found out that one of my best friends is coming to the Bay Area the week after school gets out so I have another good thing to look forward to!

Klite, I just looked at your blog - your recipes look wonderful--I bookmarked them right away to try some this summer Thank you for putting them online!

[theclownster]

Hi Kadi! I like all the ideas others have given. For me, I like to read magazines, go to the park to take a walk, watch tv shows, watch movies at home or go out to the movies, go to workout, go to my weight watchers meetings, eat out for breakfast (IC and weight watchers friendly food), laugh with family and friends, go to a baseball game, go to the lake, get a massage, get a pedicure, etc.

It sounds like you will be having some fun with your friend coming to town.

I hope you get to learn about your new job placement soon. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers hoping you get the assignment you are most looking forward to. Take care!

Best wishes,
Jennifer

[momto3]

If you had 4 weeks off work and you will need to stay at home & not travel, what would you do to improve your health/wellbeing with IC?

I will have 4 or 7 weeks off for summer vacation this year. I'd really hoped to travel, but I'm on the transfer list to work at a new school this Fall. I have to wait for the vacancies list to pick my new work site and assignment. No one knows when the list will be ready. Sooo, I can't make plans to be out of town because I need to be here to get my new assignment. And I don't know if I'll have 4 weeks off or 7 weeks off (depends if I get a job at a year-round school or one on traditional schedule), so I don't know when my vacation wil end.

So, I'm thinking, to make the best of this "stay-cation", to focus on improving my health. Any suggestions for a daily routine or things to do that might help with my IC, muscle pain, and stress level?

I hope you find some fun things to do. Do you spend a lot of time in SF? I love doing touristy things so I love when out of town guests come to visit. I recently did the double decker bus tour and the ducks. Both were fun!

Is your school district facing many budget cuts? We are and it's very depressing. We're going to 30:1 for K-3. My youngest is going into 4th so number wise, it won't affect him but my favorite 5th grade teacher is losing her job so he won't have the opportunity to have her next year.

[kadi]

Oh yeah, the budget cuts have hit us hard. My school no longer has a computer center (the computers were given out to replace teachers' classroom computers when they died), no longer has a library (no staff & no $ for books). We lost class size reduction 2 years ago - K-3 has 32 kids per class, no staggered reading. Last year there was no summer school and adult school no longer allows high school seniors to make up credits at night. Last I heard, half the sophomore class is not on track to graduate in 2 years.

The teachers are working an extra hour per day with no increase in pay at all levels K-12 and will have 4 unpaid furlough days next year. The high school teachers are now teaching 5 classes per day & 180 students per day instead of 3 longer classes with only 90 kids per day. My school district no longer gives probationary contracts (which will eventually lead to tenure), only temporary contracts, so while it looks like they're not laying off teachers, they still are but they're calling them "Non-reelects" so the numbers don't appear in the newspaper.

It's bad, but I'm ok because I have 3 teaching credentials (including a Spanish bilingual one), 20 years total teaching with 12 in my current school district, so my job is relatively safe. I'm just hoping for a good placement for next year.

i thought the budget was bad when I first started teaching 20 years ago, but this last year has been by far the worst.

[ICNDonna]

I have my fingers crossed for you.

Donna

[momto3]

i thought the budget was bad when I first started teaching 20 years ago, but this last year has been by far the worst.

Yuck, that is a mess! I hope you get the position you want. It sounds like you have some very desirable certifications.

Things aren't that bad here yet. But a $98 parcel tax just failed that would have saved class size reduction. Teachers with less than 10 years got pink slipped. My oldest will be in 8th grade so soon we'll be dealing with high school cuts.

Enough about the depressing CA schools! You're almost done and will soon have lots of time for a well-deserved break. You have my utmost respect for continuing to teach and make a difference despite having so many tools taken away from you.

If you're ever looking for a movie partner, let me know! I've been known to go to daytime movies and tell my family I'm going to PTA meetings.

[judy45]

This is a fun question, and my only answer is "pamper yourself" We spend so much time dealing with pain and lack of sleep and doctors and bull**** that never ends. Shop, eat out (carefully) get massages, manicures pedicures, whatever you can afford. READ, read great books, old classics and trashy novels. Take long walks on the beach, catch up with old friends. See all kinds of movies, even if you think you wont like them, you never know. I have even gone to the movies by myself sometimes when I just need to get away and I feel so naughty! It's fun. Hope you enjoy your time off!

[kadi]

Hi there,
It looks like I'll have 3-1/2 weeks off, then 2 weeks to prepare for my new job. I need to plan, move all my stuff from storage, prepare the classroom & lessons. I'm really excited about it - got a 4th/5th grade combination class at a new school. So, new grade level, new school - very glad And now, let the relaxing begin.... Slept in late today, still wearing pajamas, and not going anywhere today, except maybe to get a pedicure, but only if I feel like it!

[theclownster]

Congratulations! I'm jealous :o) Your new job sounds wonderful and it sounds like you are very happy with it. I hope it's all you wish for, dream of, and hope for. Enjoy your time off and have fun relaxing!

All the best,
Jennifer