“Stress is the trash of modern life – we all generate it but if you don’t dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.” Terri Guillemets
I admit it, I have a problem.
I have a severe inability to switch off.
In the back of the mind I have a little voice telling me that the kitchen needs cleaning, the laundry needs putting away and my summer clothes need switching for my winter clothes.
It’s pretty intense, stressful and annoying.
But I’m really trying to get better and I’m starting to get there thank goodness!
What really made it obvious was a conversation with Lee today. Basically we were talking about the fact that last night, I didn’t do anything remotely constructive (aside from eating dinner and washing my hair) and spent the evening watching episodes of Vampire Diaries, which is my new love (I can’t resist letting out my inner 15 year old occasionally….), in front of the fire, eating Peanut M and Ms and it was absolutely blissed me out!
So I was telling Lee today how I had things that I should be doing and that I can’t just sit around watching TV again and he said that he was really pleased when I did that because he thinks it’s so rare for me to switch off properly and the real difference is how mellow I sounded after and how happy it seemed to make me.
And I’m not condoning watching TV all day every day but if you do find things that allow you to really switch off from the rest of the world then I honestly think that you need to grab hold of those things and embrace the because our poor brains need and deserve a break from all the stuff they go through, so put the kettle on, grab a snack and sit down, you will feel so much better for it, I promise!
I think the difference is finding something that really absorbs you though so if there aren’t any TV shows that are really interesting you (repeats are no good as they won’t keep you as absorbed) then try some other things:
- Read a really good book – books are great for escapism and relaxation.
- Learn to garden, I assure you, it’s incredibly relaxing and very cathartic.
- Go watch the sun rise/set, it’s something that people rarely take the time to do and you honestly cannot feel anything other than awe when watching that.
- Do something silly like learn to hula-hoop or juggle (note to self: must remember that’s on my list!).
- Take a really long bath and forget about the world whilst listening to mellow music (I like jazz in the bath) and reading a magazine, something trashy can make it all the more relaxing!
- Play a video game. Seriously, every time I pick up my Professor Layton game on the DS, I get lost in a world of puzzles and adventure, it might sound silly but it’s fun, mellow and mentally stimulatingy.
- Put music on, throw your headphones over your ears and just listen, there’s nothing like it.
This list is not exhaustive and what helps you escape from the intensity that life can bring is subjective but it truly makes such a difference if you do let yourself off the hook to have some fun, you won’t regret it.
Happy happy Tuesday!
Love
Jen
