I guess it’s no secret that life in my household has been rather more stressful than usual lately. Well today I decided that I needed to remember the basic rule of airline travel: put on your own oxygen mask first before assisting others. In other words, if we don’t protect our own emotional health, we’re no good to anyone else. So in the spirit of good fun, I pulled together a few things that preserve MY emotional health!!!
1. Disappear into fiction.
Don’t you love a good book that wraps up neatly in the end? And the problems in fiction tend to be so much BIGGER than anything I have to deal with (though — honestly — maybe not this week!). Today I curled up on the couch for an hour or so and read this book. It’s gripping. I’d love to see it as a movie. Is the writing the best? Not so much, but it’s fun!
2. Take a nap.
My first nap today started at 11:00 AM. I never underestimate the power of just a few minutes of “turning off my brain”!
3. Clean something, anything.
The physical energy I expend in cleaning, and controlling, my environment always returns me to a sense of well-being.
4. Food and Drink and Exercise.
I know…dangerous territory here, but comfort food and comfort smells really help! I’ve already told you how happy I was to smell coffee on the airplane last week. Drinking it during the day reminds me of all that I love most. And ice cream? Well… that leads directly to the last point, exercise. You all know the studies on exercise and mood. Enough said.
5. An arsenal of secret weapons.
I don’t mean guns and knives to eliminate your stresses, of course. I mean those things that always work just for you. For me? A short ride in the car with David, the smell of Barnes and Noble when I walk in, watch a stupid TV show (Project Runway anyone?), sit by the pool with friends, put on my iPod, throw something — anything — away, find a new friend from Facebook, or head to the mall for a cup of coffee.
How about you? What are the ways you destress?
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For me it’s laundry… As I fold the clothes I relive whatever last memory I have of the family in those clothes. Hunter’s bathing suit reminds me of being out in the boat and watching him get sweet air on his wakeboard. My pajamas remind me that a cozy bed awaits me at the end of the day (or middle of the day for those who nap:)) Our old t-shirts were worn to help a friend in need. You get the picture… In one event, there is care for my family, restoration of order to the house, reminders of the many blessings in our lives.
Good one Marla..
A few destressers:
1. Iced Latte everyday after lunch…actually walking into sbux with shoulders back, head up and teeth showing.
2. Basketball @ the park. Whole new level here in NC…wow, I will probably be in pain.
3. Dreaming with my amazing bride!!!
4. A great glass of wine wiht my wife while watching art.
I used to destress by going to soccer matches, but not so much now. The big one for me is going on holiday and not thinking about work. Or having a bath!
Freshly laundered bedsheets!
I destress by doing a BBQ with my husband and a couple glasses of champane, there is something so soothing about the smell of a nice charcole fire, it transports me into another world of memories of camping and family BBQ’s with lots of laughing and dancing. I also put on Sing Star or American Idol and sing. I am not the best singer but somehow singing releases my soul
yeah, well what if your health doesn’t allow you to have that ice cream, glass of wine or to exersize vigorously? What if there is no escape? Doing laundry isn’t my thing. Neither is cleaning. I don’t have time to read much. Everything around me is falling apart. My mother is going down hill, my father-in-law is dying. My husband has kidney and liver disease, my back may require surgery, and they are squeezing me out of my job because my personal life is overwhelming me to the point of interfering with my performance. So now what?
Sue, I was away taking care of my Alzheimer’s mother last week when your comment came in. You have so much on your shoulders, sister. I can hear the fear and sheer “overwhelmingness” in your words. You are right that so many things seem to be unavailable to you right now. I’ve been praying over what to say to you. And I don’t really have any great answers, except that knowing you are loved — by your husband and by God — is a great gift. Knowing that the world still goes on every morning with a sunrise, and birds sing, and winds touch your hair and your cheeks, these are gifts too. I’ll be praying that in some way, in some very clear way, God will cross your path today with a hug, a reminder how special you are.
Hang in there, sister, and I will pray that you get some answers and clarity soon. Thank you for taking the time to write.