Stress Relieving Ideas

I feel like I've been sucker punched by an invisible fist attached to some big ugly guy who apparently doesn't know who he's messing with. It's starting to irritate me!

Tommy has this saying (which also irritates me) that goes: "If it is to be, it is up to me." So I guess if I want relief, I have to be the one to make it happen. Here are some ideas I've thought up and researched and hopefully I'll find time and opportunity to test them out. Maybe YOU can test them too and let me know how much relief they bring you!

• massage (I did get one Monday. That was nice! Too bad it was just ONCE.)
• take a bath, add music/candles/cold glass of favorite drink and close door and stay there an hour or so. (this recommendation comes from someone who has no kids)
• comedy night: supply yourself with munchies and several comedy videos and let laughter be your best medicine (throw in a babysitter and I'm all for it!)
• "scoot off for a day or two" and go somewhere away from the worries of life. Take a journal to help you gather your thoughts and relax. Being near water increases the relaxed atmosphere. (sounds like its good for certain kinds of stress, sounds like it might add up to dollar signs too)
• spend a week watching no tv, which will allow you to avoid an induced emotional roller coaster (I don't watch much anyway. Wonder if it would work in reverse?)
• guided imagery Start by traveling through our tranquil cloud imagery designed to help you relieve stress. Click the Tranquility Window to the left, and see if the flight helps you experience a few moments of peace and quick stress relief. All you have to do is focus on the imagery and be willing to let go. (this sounds kooky)
• eat right and exercise (I'm eating better...exercise is a hard one, but hopefully we'll get around to getting a membership at the pool and go swimming. All in good time.)
• Handle important tasks first and eliminate unessential tasks (this sounds good! I actually did it when Tommy came home from the hospital. I got a dry erase board, put it on the fridge, and kept notes there of what I needed from the store and what chores I needed to accomplish when and all that sort of thing. When something was handled, I erased it from the board. That way, I didn't have to think about that stuff to remember it and things got done without worrying about them.)
• Take a break and meditate to slow down "mind-racing" (another person who has no kids)
• Reduce the urge to be "perfect" (I think I was born with that. I'm not sure HOW to reduce that urge!)
• Reduce criticism (wow...that kind of slaps ya in the face, doesn't it?)
• Don't stress when expectations are not met (another lifestyle change?)
• Manage your anger (I want to say "shut up!")
• Push away negativity of any kind (Tommy and I talked about this just the other day. I'm believing its crucial at this point. It's just really hard to do!)
• Choose to keep quiet when you feel a negative reaction (then I need some duct tape!)
• Be cheerful, it deflates others stress and anxiety (another hard one)
• Dab essential oils on your wrist to remind yourself to relax (Hey, I can actually do this!)
• Utilize relaxation techniques; Yoga, Meditation, Breathing, etc (when? Can I do this in the car while driving from here to there?)
• Laugh more, and often (I giggle and laugh all the time, unless I'm firy angry)
• Cry (You have no idea how badly I'd like to, just have no real opportunity for it. Everybody seems to want me to help me stop crying instead of letting me have a downpour.)
• Remember you can only change yourself (.....)
  
  Control Stress
  You fight a cold. You bandage a cut. You get rid of a headache. The point is if something impacts you negatively, you do something about it. Stressing brings about a negative impact, so do something about it. Don't allow stress to build. Don't allow stress to steal your joy. When you feel stress coming on, push it away. Resist it. Fight back. Use whatever tools or stress relief tips that work for you, just don’t give stress power over you.

Ok, so that's a lot to think about. There were other things I found like "light therapy" and water fountains and walks in the woods.... I'm interested in any suggestions YOU might have too. I know I'm in a time of my life when things just have "to be" and that once I'm through them, all will be ok again. It's just a slow walk down a long path and its hard while I'm in the middle of it. It's beating my own health up too, so time for a change. Want to change with me?