Apologies in advance to the students whose papers I graded at 2 a.m. this morning. I was up, so even though I can’t imagine what insight I shared that early (or late, depending on your perspective), that is one thing I can tick off for today…
Yeah. I know. I am the least mindful person I know, but I’m trying. This weekend, I worked on a little yard project and came away happy. I made a meal for my family. I hung out with the grandkids and we talked about television shows.
So what do you do when you’re feeling wrung out? Share here. I’m always looking for ways to calm down.
My anxiety was through the roof by Sat. morning which doesn't help anything. So I made a big pot of turkey chili, made "Thinking of You" cards for two friends rehabbing in nursing homes & worked on some projects for our local history Museum. I call it "changing the subject in my head" and it worked. Oddly enough what calms me down most is making cards. Well that, or Ativan, but I think card making is the better way to go.
During the rougher (for me) days of the early pandemic, I lit on this very thing -- making food and sending out cards to people who could use the attention. It made all the difference for me.
Anything outside, in almost any weather (I’ve collected a lot of weather gear).
We have covered screen porch that’s a refuge and a tonic most of the year.
Playing music or reading while listening to music. I’ve recently gained the technology to stream to my big speakers from my phone/tablet (big speakers being an indication of my age). There’s something about listening to a jazz show from Barcelona, a blues show from Seattle, local music from Nairobi or classical music from Helsinki that makes the world seem less f’ed up and more connected. The choices are endless and exploring them is half the fun.
Of course listening to English language news broadcasts from around the world can be illuminating but not necessarily relaxing. I guess that’s for another thread.
These are all great. I have an enclosed front porch that is my happy place. So is the hammock and the patio out back. I like my basement. Actually, my home is lousy with happy places.
Engaging with the physical world helps. Gardening, or cooking, or even cleaning. Or dealing with necessary tasks I tend to delay, like working on tax prep. At relevant times, dealing with poetry submissions. And now that we're at least past the Trump administration, I am reading offline books more, and that helps as well.
It sounds like the basics are in order - earlier to bed and more sleep! Calming activities I enjoy include watching a good movie (nothing too deep- maybe a comedy), book or audio book or other reading, or playing cards. If you want to give guided meditation a try, use the app Headspace. A warm shower relaxes. Avoid caffeine. I hope you can sleep.
I'm still on prednisone from a nasty bout with poison ivy, so interrupted sleep is always a part of my reaction. I'm OK. If I'm awake, I do something, and then I fall asleep. In six days, I am going to get a 12-hour sleep and I don't care what needs my attention.
Two words: Adult coloring! (Something you can do with the grandkids.)
If I could only strap them to a chair long enough...but that's a great idea.
BTW, I'm doing a coloring workshop at Spectrum Gallery Sunday, Oct. 17 -- your neck of the woods!
Can you insert the details here? Might be something we all could check out.
https://spectrumartgallery.org/event-registration/?ee=142
I go for a walk. If it's raining I pick up a book.
I'm walking a lot these days. It's really soothing and I think more clearly.
My anxiety was through the roof by Sat. morning which doesn't help anything. So I made a big pot of turkey chili, made "Thinking of You" cards for two friends rehabbing in nursing homes & worked on some projects for our local history Museum. I call it "changing the subject in my head" and it worked. Oddly enough what calms me down most is making cards. Well that, or Ativan, but I think card making is the better way to go.
During the rougher (for me) days of the early pandemic, I lit on this very thing -- making food and sending out cards to people who could use the attention. It made all the difference for me.
Anything outside, in almost any weather (I’ve collected a lot of weather gear).
We have covered screen porch that’s a refuge and a tonic most of the year.
Playing music or reading while listening to music. I’ve recently gained the technology to stream to my big speakers from my phone/tablet (big speakers being an indication of my age). There’s something about listening to a jazz show from Barcelona, a blues show from Seattle, local music from Nairobi or classical music from Helsinki that makes the world seem less f’ed up and more connected. The choices are endless and exploring them is half the fun.
Of course listening to English language news broadcasts from around the world can be illuminating but not necessarily relaxing. I guess that’s for another thread.
These are all great. I have an enclosed front porch that is my happy place. So is the hammock and the patio out back. I like my basement. Actually, my home is lousy with happy places.
Engaging with the physical world helps. Gardening, or cooking, or even cleaning. Or dealing with necessary tasks I tend to delay, like working on tax prep. At relevant times, dealing with poetry submissions. And now that we're at least past the Trump administration, I am reading offline books more, and that helps as well.
Oddly, I started cooking. I would never have expected that of myself.
It sounds like the basics are in order - earlier to bed and more sleep! Calming activities I enjoy include watching a good movie (nothing too deep- maybe a comedy), book or audio book or other reading, or playing cards. If you want to give guided meditation a try, use the app Headspace. A warm shower relaxes. Avoid caffeine. I hope you can sleep.
I'm still on prednisone from a nasty bout with poison ivy, so interrupted sleep is always a part of my reaction. I'm OK. If I'm awake, I do something, and then I fall asleep. In six days, I am going to get a 12-hour sleep and I don't care what needs my attention.
6 days days sounds like a long time to wait for a good sleep. 😔 Take care, my friend. 😘
I like the yard work idea. Personally, I’m tilling like a madman these days.,
I have so many projects so I guess my house and yard are pretty.
Open back door, walk around yard, pull weeds for 10 minutes. Get back inside. It's still 90 degrees here in FL.
That would keep me at my indoor terrarium, I think.
Turn off all screens, listen to music.
Including The Dead. I started listening to more novels. I got out of the habit and don’t know why.