A Life-Changing Chiropractor Appointment
Plus motivational fitness advice from Emma Pickford of The Artful Runner
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As I write to you today, I am sat in my home office with my laptop on a raiser while using a separate mouse and keyboard. So what? I hear you ask. Well, if you’re sensible, this is probably the norm for you. But what if I told you I’ve worked almost consistently from the sofa for the past eight years? The only exception was when I was pregnant, and I bought an ergonomic chair to try and stop me from having another back-to-back baby. (It didn’t work mind you – but at least I tried).
I’m not sure why the sofa working setup started. When I first went freelance, I was so happy to no longer be working in an office, I cherished being able to cosy up on the sofa while writing. Then when my first son came along, I’d sit with him napping on my chest while typing with one hand. I was actually quite proud of this setup. (See photo evidence below). And the rest of it was just complete laziness and an incredibly bad habit.
But now I’m months away from turning 40 and after my second son, my body doesn’t seem to be able to do what it used to. Then, at the end of December, my teeth-grinding-induced headaches returned, and I knew something had to change. And when I say headache, I mean debilitating, day-ruining, miserable headaches that started at my neck, ran into the back of my head and came around my eyes. Working was starting to become difficult and staring at my screen for more than 45 minutes made me nauseous.
So, desperate and looking for anything to help me feel better, I contacted a local clinic about acupuncture - an alternative therapy that has helped me enormously in other areas of my life. The lady on the phone said they’d be happy to provide some acupuncture but what I really needed for the horrible and consistent headaches was to see a chiropractor.
Fast forward a month, and I’ve been going for weekly sessions where my back and neck are adjusted and my jaw is massaged (yes, it’s as weird and horrible as it sounds – but it’s helping), and an exercise programme has been set. Turns out my posture is pretty wonky and still in a ‘classic postnatal’ position which is in turn putting pressure on my neck and head. I’m now doing daily exercises to strengthen my body and core and try to get everything realigned. The teeth grinding will require Invisalign and less stress to correct totally but it’s been a massive wake-up call to say the least.
My youngest son is two and a half now and I’ve put incredible pressure on myself to get my body back to where it was through exercise. But I’ve not really listened that much to how it was feeling in general. I’m also not really sure why I’ve been living in pain and discomfort for such a long time and just accepting it. Do women just get used to pain so we think that’s normal? Turns out going to the chiropractor has made me ask myself some much bigger questions about what I should be prioritising.
That’s not to say that exercise isn’t important – it’s an incredibly important part of my life and something that’s helped me rebuild my strength after having two babies. It also helps me feel calmer when I’m anxious, more empowered when I’m losing confidence, and happier when I’m feeling a bit bleurgh. It also helped me connect with other mums while I was on maternity leave through classes like Carifit and yoga. The headache issue has just revealed that burning calories shouldn't come before doing the slower, gentle moves that help my body rehabilitate itself and stay strong.
The key to sticking to any exercise regime is of course, enjoyment which is why I was recently so inspired by the Instagram account of Emma Pickford, a self-employed mum of one, (with another on the way) and a lover of intuitive movement and running. Emma’s posts are all about taking small steps to making exercise a realistic part of your life. She also very bravely shares about how running has helped her through other very difficult parts of her life such as miscarriage and the loss of loved ones. For Emma, running is so much more than just burning calories - it’s become a form of therapy, too.
Keen to know more, I asked Emma if I could interview her for The Freelance Parent and hopefully pass on some of her positivity and motivation. She has so much brilliant, motivational advice, no matter whether you’re starting as a complete beginner or fancy shaking up your workout routine with something new. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
INTERVIEW: EMMA PICKFORD OF THE ARTFUL RUNNER
CAT: When and why did you start your account, The Artful Runner?
Emma: “It’s been a bit of a journey, that’s for sure. The last 18 months have seen me leave the teaching profession after 12 years (mainly because I found it to be too inflexible around being a Mum), embark on a new career as a calligrapher and lettering artist, and suffer personal loss at a time of real insecurity. I have struggled with my identity, balancing a career alongside being a mum to a toddler, and finding direction. When establishing my artistic niche, I decided I wanted initially to work with brands who endorsed fitness and wellbeing for mums and to sell my own artwork and merchandise that supports this value. So I began The Artful Runner in September 2023 in this vain, refining my portfolio and pitching to clients”.
“But what I didn’t bank on, was the joy and passion I felt for showcasing my own journey alongside this. How in fact, after a personal loss in our family at the start of 2023, and a subsequent miscarriage in April of the same year, that I really needed this. I needed to share my own journey because I realised in all the commotion of leaving a successful career, embarking on a new one with no direction and struggling with my own identity, that I had completely neglected myself. My love of running and fitness was very much in the background. I kept saying I didn’t have time because something else always needed to be done. I was low, miserable and resentful that I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on for me outside of being a mum”.
“It was my partner who reminded me that my own wellbeing - doing what I love and getting some exercise in - was as much a ‘needs to be done’ as any other chore or task for the day. And it sparked this. It truly has brought me back to life!”
CAT: What should people expect from visiting your Instagram page?
EMMA: “I hope, a sense of empowerment. Ideas for how to manage time and shift your mindset to realise you just have to prioritise self-care as a mum. I hope to inspire people to workout and I always try to highlight the benefits of exercise on both our physical and mental health. I want to offer hope to mums who want simple ways to make big changes to their wellbeing. I hope my page is informative, collaborative and motivational. The last thing I would want to do is make any mums feel bad that they are not doing the things I am, or are not able to find the time. We’re all different and have exceptionally different circumstances. But I hope that they might feel empowered to make time for themselves in whatever way is manageable and realistic”.
CAT: How do you maintain motivation and consistency?
EMMA: “A shift in mindset. I’ve had to really open my eyes to the fact that as a mum, I can’t do things when I feel like it or when I want to. So, while I might be motivated to workout, I know I might have to bottle that motivation for another time if childcare is an issue. Discipline is key here, because you have to train yourself to do it sometimes when that motivation has gone. Being flexible and setting realistic goals is key, such as a number of workouts a week rather than a specific time helps in my household. You have to choose a schedule that works for you. I’m motivated by how much better I feel when I’ve done it. I feel so much worse when I don’t give myself that time and I always try to remind myself of that. The feeling of doing it is so much better than not doing it”.
CAT: What advice would you give someone for getting back into exercise?
EMMA: “Take your time. I had an emergency C-section with my daughter so was under strict instructions anyway, but I don’t know many people who would have the energy to do much in those first 8 weeks at least in any case! Get the all-clear from your doctor first, always. Then do things that fit in your lifestyle. Walking for example was a great nap opportunity for baby and a chance to get moving in the outdoors. Then moving forward, I’d recommend two things”:
“Choose a program designed specifically for postpartum for a while. It takes away any anxiety about doing things safely and will be designed with your recovery in mind. They will also build you back up in the steps you need to recover in a healthy way”.
“Try not to focus on ‘bouncing back’ - what a phrase! You don’t know how your body will recover, how your mind will recover and the last thing you want to do is put any pressure on yourself. Instead, focus on how it might make you feel to focus on something you enjoy and how great it will feel to help your body get strong again. But above all else, you’ll know when you’re ready. So go easy on yourself”.
TIPS FOR ADDING EXERCISE INTO A FREELANCE SCHEDULE
1. “Aim for a weekly number of workouts rather than set days and times. If I have achieved say four workouts by the end of the week, it doesn’t matter when I’ve done them. If you try to be strict about time and then your child doesn’t sleep, or something else comes up, you will feel like you’ve failed”.
2. “Workout when multitasking. Because we have no choice really! So, I might grab 15 minutes while my daughter is eating her breakfast, or dinner. Or I’ll workout with her there and she joins in. Most evenings I’ll put dinner on and workout at home while it’s cooking - this isn’t my preferred time but I make do!”
3. “If you have a partner, try to get them on board, too. Make sure they know your goals so they can support you. They can make sure they’re home when you want to go for a run, or they can cook dinner a few times a week while you exercise (I’m still waiting for that one!) But involving my partner has been instrumental in ensuring I stick to my workouts”.
4. “Workout with your partner. I know the feeling - you get to the evening and you should be spending time together, right? But you both want to collapse on the sofa and watch more Suits. We work out together 1-2x a week so it’s our protected time. We just choose a simple YouTube workout and I modify it for my current capability”.
5. “Join a group/community/workout buddy. It helps keep you accountable, fuels your passion and they’ll end up being your biggest cheerleaders when you inspire each other to challenges and stepping out of your comfort zone”.
6. “Add it to your daily calendar with the same priority as everything else in your day. Don’t allow it to be pushed back and treated like it’s not urgent, or you will continue to do that”.
7. “Choose something you love. Don’t pick a gym if you hate them. Why not give a few new things a go and see what you like the best?”
8. “Figure out when you have time. It’s easy to think we have none, but I guarantee if you wrote down your DITL for a week and then looked back at when you could have fit 20 mins of working out in, you’d be able to find it”.
You can follow Emma on Instagram here and here and check out her brilliant website here.
Until next time!
Cat x