Things That Work: De-stressors
Stress manifests itself in different ways. Usually something on me breaks out...my face, my tongue, this go round - it's my eye. Between trying to strike a work-life balance between a new business, motherhood and household management, I've been on a quest to quell some of the angst I've been experiencing lately. Here's what I've come up with that works for me:
1. Distraction: a good novel or magazine article as time permits stops my world for a minute and allows me to escape whatever feels pressing. I can usually come back to the present with a little more clarity and awareness than when I left it.
2. Knowing that all there is to do is what there is to do* and doing it. Whether it's the laundry, a phone call, the dishes, a craft I'd been promising the kids, dinner, etc., I try not to let my energy level or feelings dictate whether something gets done.
3. Sugar: Mochi, candy corn, caramel apples, rasmalai, custard, smores, cinnamon popcorn, Vosges chocolate - sweet stuffs are my friend
4. Goodwill: There's always something cool to find at Goodwill and that the expenditure is for a good cause is an added bonus.
5. Water or hot tea. I love 2 glasses of cool water or a cup of hot pink lady apple tea.
6. Running: Even though I already run 2-4 times a week, I find this type of exercise extremely helpful in the morning, especially in alleviating some of the stress I wake up with.
7. Michael Franti on Pandora + a stick of burning incense.
8. Writing: I keep journals for each of my children, a private journal and this blog. Writing in any of these is both a distraction and a rejuvenator.
9. Alone time.
10. Laughter: Things bringing me laughter these days, aside from the entertainers my children can be, are these shows: Modern Family, Cougar Town, Glee, Running Wilde, SNL, and Psych.
*Landmark Education