Every morning my Facebook feed is littered with articles about all the things I need improve in my life. Finances, my relationship, superannuation, bone density, over consumption, my face. You know, the usual suspects.
I know we don’t really need more stuff to add to the already enormous list of things we’re sucking at but sometimes there are things we ignore that we really shouldn’t. Little things that don’t seem like that have a huge effect on us when actually they do. It’s like when you ignore that gross carrot in the bottom of your vegetable drawer. It’s fine for a while, then it gets soft and then when you’re finally ready to deal with the situation it’s turned to liquid. You left it too long. Here are a few things you should be paying attention to so they turn into rotten vegetable juice.
Things You Need To Stop Ignoring
1. Your friendships
Exhausting friendships may not seem like that big a deal but when you’re a proper grown up with proper grown up responsibilities like kids, a career, your health and stopping your life from spontaneously combusting, ain’t no one got time for a one sided friendship. If you’ve spent the last decade being the emotional support for someone and you’ve received nothing in return, start thinking of ways you can lessen this burden. I know it sounds harsh and I fully support people being there for their friends in their hour of need but it’s called an hour of need… not a decade of need. Don’t let a friendship turn into a jail sentence.
Action step: Give your close friendships a quick review and if any of them are under performing, look to see if there are ways you can fix this.
2. What entertainment you consume
This suggestion comes from a very personal place because I realised quite recently that I stopped reading for pleasure a few years ago, purely by accident. I’ve made a proper effort to read for pleasure this year and it’s been life changing. I’m also trying to be more mindful about what TV shows and movies I watch. I don’t want to waste my time on crap so I research things before I invest my time in them.
Action step: Ask yourself if what you’re consuming for entertainment is adding anything to your life. It’s totally okay to watch The Kardashians as long as you know why you’re watching it. For example it might be your guilty pleasure which is totally fine – just make sure the next thing you watch isn’t total crap.
3. Little body gripes
It’s so easy to ignore silent problems like getting your moles checked or going to the dentist but ignoring this can actually be fatal. You don’t have to do it often – once a year for moles, once every 5 years for cervical cancer if your scan comes back clear and a quick flu shot at the beginning of the season. Easy peasy!
Action step: Book yourself in for any appointments you’ve been putting off. Dentist, optometrist, gynaecologist. Just do it now. Most medical appointments in Australia have a medicare rebate so it shouldn’t be too costly an exercise. I got a voluntary quad flu shot this year from Priceline and it cost me $24. Bloody bargain.
What are some things you’ve been putting off that you really to do? Tell me so I can hold you accountable!
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8 Comments
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Hi Carly,
Great to include preventative health in this post however, the new 5 yearly cervical screening program doesn’t start until May 2017. The Australian Government is still recommending that women continue to participate in the 2 yearly screening for cervical cancer until then and don’t delay having their tests. Most cervical cancer screening can be done through a General Practitioner and doesn’t require referral to a gynaecologist.
For more information, http://www.cancerscreening.gov.au/internet/screening/publishing.nsf/content/cervical-screening-1
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Author
My last scan cleared me for 5 years – I got a letter from my GP. Is that not right?
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Hi Carly,
The Government’s cancer screening.gov.au website contains general information about cervical cancer screening i.e. : “Until 1 May 2017, it is important to undertake two yearly Pap tests to prevent cervical cancer”.
If you have received individualised advice, you should be guided by that for yourself.
The new program will still involve a cervical sample via the vagina (not a scan as such).
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Thanks so much for letting me know about that, I really appreciate it. I do assume that people will follow the advice of their GP though. I wasn’t suggesting that people ignore their GP and listen to me, I was saying that it’s not a big deal to get a pap test, which is an important message. And my letter from my GP definitely said I don’t need another test for 5 years and it’s not an unreasonable assumption that if other people’s tests come back clear that they won’t need another test for 5 years. If the thought of not having to do it for another 5 years is a good incentive to get someone to go and get a pap test, I think it’s an okay thing to say in a blog post.
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I have not seen a dentist in a veeeeeeery long time because I have a HUGE GINORMOUS phobia. I called them a few weeks ago to discuss making an appointment ( weird but true) but still haven’t made the appointment. My heart is racing just thinking about it. I deadset think id rather give birth again than go to the dentist!
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Oh no – I know of lots of people who are weird about dentists. I haven’t been in ages – I need to sort that out. My teeth are fine though. Hopefully! 🙂
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Love this! I’m reading more of late too, and not committing to the time sucking reality shows that are on 6 nights a week. I recently had the 5 year cervical screen as part of the test group. It will be available to everyone next year. That may be the same for you. Like the dentist, I’d put if off and then not as bad as I’d imagined.
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I didn’t even know I was part of a test group but I’m definitely clear for 5 years which is rad! I was so excited!
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