In order to be proactive, I want to generate a list and keep it fresh in my mind of routines of things I do to make the stress palatable. I know things are going to come around in work, and I'll have no control over them, but I will have control (hah!) over my reactions and memories of all the little things I do to make life fun and keep in mind as a "happy place" to go to in stressful times.
Here are current small things that make me happy:
* I listen to books on CD in the car to and from work. So as I'm stressing about the workday ahead I sometimes find myself looking forward to the drive just so I can be read to (currently on the 3rd listen through of the Harry Potter books).
* I don't know why, but the saying, "how do you eat an elephant? one bite at a time." always makes me smile. I know that the HUGE thing I'm facing just gets chipped away at and eventually gets done. Don't see the WHOLE elephant, just your current nibble.
* I keep a foot massage rolly thing in the bathroom at home, so I vow to roll each foot across it 12 times for each visit.
* every Thursday during the school year, I go out to breakfast as a treat. It's something to look forward to and to see as a light at the end of the week's tunnel.
* I chant the mantra, "It's going to be great. It's going to work out fine." accompanied by a deep breath when I am getting stressed.
* On the mornings I exercise on the treadmill, I have a book/magazine rack on it, so I can read through my latest things and that will be motivation to get on it and sweat. So I'm not really exercising, I'm reading.
* It's helpful to kvetch with friends and make the problem sound ridiculous, so that you don't feel so alone in your apparently HUGE problems. Laughing always helps.
Okay. And I'm not really that stressed just yet (though maybe I should be because my room still is a shambles). But ..... I'm guessing it's coming soon.
My son and I love Nancy Farmers' books. We just finished at least the second listen to the 3 books Sea of Trolls, Land of the Silver Apple, Island(s?) of the Blessed. We also love The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm.
ReplyDeleteRight now we're listening to Holes.
Yeay for audio books!
It SUCKS that I don't have any of these nice things in place for myself! I think I already told you that I love your weekly breakfast idea, but I don't know how I can make it work. (Whining and being negative already.) The ONE thing I wish I were more disciplined to do regularly is exercise, and of course if I'm not doing this then I feel I don't deserve the nice breakfast! My daily hot shower is what I look forward to. Isn't that sad? Oy. But you're forcing me to rethink the whole be-good-to-myself.
ReplyDeleteHah! I KNEW I'd talked about this before, but I'm feeling like I needed a reminder.
ReplyDeleteFawn: I look forward to the nice soothing shower, too. I love the soap (mint usually) and shampoo (undescribable) smells I have.
Sue: thanks for the tips. I'm going to put them on my simplyaudiobooks list now.
Great ideas! I'm quitting my gym so all reading's going to happen on the subway, and I'm going to copy the foot massage rolly thing (tennis ball), mantra, and make sure to make nice breakfasts at home!
ReplyDeleteHi Kristina. My feet are loving the daily TLC, so I highly recommend it. Have fun :)
ReplyDelete