These last two week. Yeah, no words. I was burning both ends of the candle and sadly, it didn’t affect just me. However, I am extremely grateful for understanding friends — thanks to them I still have my cool, purple hair on my head!
But, I got to thinking, considering all that I juggle [disclaimer: because I want to], how do I destress? How do I calm the F down? How do I remain calm? And how do I keep it together so that I still have friends who wanna hang with me??
sweat it out. Even if it is for a quick HIIT workout, sweat it out. It’s no joke that endorphins make us happy, so don’t hesitate and create some for yourself! My mind is always clearer & sharper post sweat sesh.
om it out. Yes…this could fall under ‘sweat it out,’ but doing some meditation or yoga is calming and sometimes necessary; plus, you body probably loves the stretch from that yoga class. If you can’t hit the mat, there’s an app for that! I have a free app on my phone solely for meditation — it includes a timer (which you can determine), some inspiration sayings, and a calming gong to ease your mind and let you linger in silence.
just say no. And…this is where I am reminded that I am whole-heartedly my mother’s daughter. I love my momma, but she cannot say no, even if she needs to! I inherited this from her, but have been getting better about turning down opportunities, nights out, or even fun stuff if it could result in a stressful, time crunching situation in the future.
be honest. This week, I had an obligation and was going to go through with it…but was honest via email that it wasn’t going to be pretty, but I was still attending. Thanks to an understanding individual, they took that obligation off of my plate and with that, the two ton weight was lifted from my shoulders. If you have a deadline and need more time, just ask! If you have to cancel plans, just be real and immediately ask to reschedule. We are all busy, being honest [usually] can never hurt.
don’t give up. Stress is tough and each of us handle it differently. I have to credit Christina for her comment — “But recently something clicked in my head. I told myself: I am busy because I am talented. Because people trust me, they want me to work for them, I have something to offer the world. So while it’s important to create a balance for yourself, the next time you are feeling overwhelmed with your to-do list, remember that if you weren’t talented, intelligent, and driven – you would have nothing to do.” And that my friends, is why we don’t give up.
go to Disney. I’m not joking. Nor can I deny that this is 50% of the reason why I have an annual pass. Disney is my happy place — my solo place — my escape — and my friend place. The thought of responsibility, to-do lists & negative ish disappear when I walk into those parks. No, I’m not avoiding being an adult, but I do use Disney as an escape for a few hours, or a day with friends.
Can’t quite slow down? [as I raise my hand…] get your quick fix. Find something that calms you down, even if it’s just for a few minutes. For me, it’s music — I rock out in the car for a couple songs and it’s like I’m a new human. Or, veg at a movie or in front of the TV for an hour, take a bath, or enjoy that glass of wine.
In closing, “Dear Stress, Peace out, yo.”
