Saturday Solace

[tj]

When your life is in chaos, what makes you feel more at ease? Less anxious, more in control, calmer. What soothes you?

[tj]

For some reason, when my anxiety is the worst, I clean. (You would think my house would be cleaner, haha!!) I get the most satisfaction out of cleaning my kitchen. Clearing off my cluttered countertops, putting every dish away, wiping down every surface, and turning on my oil diffuser just makes everything feel better.

Also, bathrooms. Something about a fresh, sparkling toilet and clutter put away makes things seem easier to handle.

And of course, I plan a treat to reward myself for all my hard work. Today, iced blueberry coffee with vanilla almond milk.

[rugger]

A long hug from MH, a peaceful walk in nature with my dog, sitting in the sun with a cool breeze, a day where there are no appointments or errands to run or tight timeframes that make me feel rushed and stressed.
And hot coffee with a brownie.

[mathrun]

Writing a good list

Decorating my planner

Doing something unplanned like taking a walk with G or going out for lunch at work instead of eating my packed lunch

Bubble baths

Ben and Jerry's ice cream

[mintyblueair]

Going for a long walk

Coffee with my husband

Making a list if I'm stressed about things that need doing

Baking something

[mapleme]

Cooking brings me back to center. Just feeling the heartbeat of the kitchen and creating something to share.

When my kids are acting particularly crazy, I try to help them achieve "flow." If they can just flow and focus on something to slow down the tumultuous struggle, we can all breathe a bit easier and smile.

[ovenrack]

TJ, I clean, too. I ignore my children and march around the house with armfuls of toys and throw them in the playroom, I wield the spray cleaner like a maniac, I lock the bathroom door behind me and bleach the hell out of that toilet bowl. I scrub every inch of the kitchen sink, I open the fridge and throw out leftovers ruthlessly. I pick up every single single sock that has been lost to a corner or under a chair.

Then I sit in the middle of the playroom floor and I put everything away.

I used to make art. I should try that again, some day.

[rockies]

Baking - I think it is the slowing down and having to measure each ingredient and then the amazing scents that calm me.

Talking to a friend about the things that are bothering me, just speaking them aloud seems to help.

Getting lost in a book

Since I can't do some of those with 2 kid running around, I agree that cleaning helps. I think it is the doing tasks can make me feel productive and also give me time to think/reflect.

[Dramaphile]

Being outdoors definitely helps, whether it's in my backyard or on a walk. At work, I go walk the trail at lunch and come back more centered.

[kona]

I exercise. Usually running but sometimes yoga.

[tj]

Jul 8, 2017 13:48:58 GMT -6 kona said:

I exercise. Usually running but sometimes yoga.

Yes, yes, yes! But my Saturday yoga class is at 7 am, and I just can't.

[sak]

If I can get away from everyone I always feel better. Not just children, but all people.

Brain dumping helps me when I feel like there's too much to do, and I'm struggling to get myself together.

I also stress-eat. A bad habit for sure.

I wish with every wish in my soul that my stress reliever was cleaning

[critter015]

I clean, mostly in a frantic running things from room to room until I'm exhausted sort of way. I have trouble focusing on one thing, so no one room ever gets done completely. I also go outside and pull weeds or do something with the animals.

[rugger]

Jul 8, 2017 16:00:57 GMT -6 sak said:

If I can get away from everyone I always feel better. Not just children, but all people.

Brain dumping helps me when I feel like there's too much to do, and I'm struggling to get myself together.

I also stress-eat. A bad habit for sure.

I wish with every wish in my soul that my stress reliever was cleaning

I feel the same about cleaning. That is definitely MH's stress reliever. I just hate dishes and laundry way too much

[stringy]

Cooking, being outside in most any form, driving (depending on the company). Exercise used to help but it's been so long I don't even know how to do it any more.

sak how do you brain dump?

I wish my brain had an off switch.

[charlotte]

Long, hot showers.

Long drives on country roads with my music blaring if I can get away alone.

Jogging. It works pretty well, I just need to do it more consistently.

Also online shopping and binge eating but I obviously do not reccomend those.

[milano]

Music. Preferably in the car, alone.

A walk outside with deep breaths.

Going to sleep.

[charlotte]

I have been experiencing a lot of anxiety lately and I really wish cleaning was one of my coping mechanisms, ha.

[critter015]

Jul 8, 2017 19:44:37 GMT -6 charlotte said:

Long, hot showers.

Long drives on country roads with my music blaring if I can get away alone.

Jogging. It works pretty well, I just need to do it more consistently.

Also online shopping and binge eating but I obviously do not reccomend those.

I do the long hot showers and driving with loud music too. I do that part with the kids sometimes, the music sort of drowns them out, and sometimes they even fall asleep. I did that a lot when O was a colicky baby and I couldn't stand holding and bouncing with him for one more second.

[nikkipal]

Walking outside, cooking (especially with fresh veggies and herbs). Hot baths with lavender and a good book. If I'm really worked up, usually talking with J helps a lot.

[sak]

Jul 8, 2017 18:14:00 GMT -6 stringy said:

Cooking, being outside in most any form, driving (depending on the company). Exercise used to help but it's been so long I don't even know how to do it any more.

sak how do you brain dump?

I wish my brain had an off switch.

I just sit down with a piece of paper and write down every single thing that crosses my mind. It's not organized. It's not pretty. It's not in any order. It's not usually full sentences. Half the time it's not even spelled right lol.

After it's all there, then I start organizing it. Put dates on my calendar. Make a to-do list. Set aside time to start to deal with any emotional/spiritual issues that came out. Whatever. Once it's on the paper and not in my brain, I have some clarity to prioritize and become much more efficient with my time. Plus my head is no longer jumbled by trying to remember everything.

I don't know when I started doing it, but I'm sure it was probably someone here that encouraged it lol. It sounds very much like an MrTerrible suggestion

[sak]

I just realized while cleaning as a whole is not a coping mechanism for me, throwing crap away really is. I just angrily stormed in to the basement and threw piles of crap in a trash bag and hauled it to the curb. It was very cathartic. I need to throw more crap away.

[ovenrack]

Jul 9, 2017 11:37:38 GMT -6 sak said:

I just realized while cleaning as a whole is not a coping mechanism for me, throwing crap away really is. I just angrily stormed in to the basement and threw piles of crap in a trash bag and hauled it to the curb. It was very cathartic. I need to throw more crap away.

[tj]

I'm pretty sure that third one is me... entirely over-reacting in an almost comical way.

[critter015]

I have seen that third one many times and still love it! Hahaha!

[stringy]

Jul 9, 2017 19:46:01 GMT -6 tj said:

I'm pretty sure that third one is me... entirely over-reacting in an almost comical way.

That's what I was gonna say! (That it's me. Not you)

[sak]

Jul 14, 2017 7:22:32 GMT -6 MrTerrible said:

Jul 9, 2017 6:31:45 GMT -6 sak said:

I just sit down with a piece of paper and write down every single thing that crosses my mind. It's not organized. It's not pretty. It's not in any order. It's not usually full sentences. Half the time it's not even spelled right lol.

After it's all there, then I start organizing it. Put dates on my calendar. Make a to-do list. Set aside time to start to deal with any emotional/spiritual issues that came out. Whatever. Once it's on the paper and not in my brain, I have some clarity to prioritize and become much more efficient with my time. Plus my head is no longer jumbled by trying to remember everything.

I don't know when I started doing it, but I'm sure it was probably someone here that encouraged it lol. It sounds very much like an MrTerrible suggestion

Yes this was me. But now I'm wondering what exactly an ITK suggestion sounds like.

Helpful, wise, and typed in a blue font.

[tj]

Jul 14, 2017 7:22:32 GMT -6 MrTerrible said:

Jul 9, 2017 6:31:45 GMT -6 sak said:

I just sit down with a piece of paper and write down every single thing that crosses my mind. It's not organized. It's not pretty. It's not in any order. It's not usually full sentences. Half the time it's not even spelled right lol.

After it's all there, then I start organizing it. Put dates on my calendar. Make a to-do list. Set aside time to start to deal with any emotional/spiritual issues that came out. Whatever. Once it's on the paper and not in my brain, I have some clarity to prioritize and become much more efficient with my time. Plus my head is no longer jumbled by trying to remember everything.

I don't know when I started doing it, but I'm sure it was probably someone here that encouraged it lol. It sounds very much like an MrTerrible suggestion

Yes this was me. But now I'm wondering what exactly an ITK suggestion sounds like.

"Shank 'em." -ITK

[tj]

Jul 14, 2017 7:50:28 GMT -6 sak said:

Jul 14, 2017 7:22:32 GMT -6 MrTerrible said:

Yes this was me. But now I'm wondering what exactly an ITK suggestion sounds like.

Help, wise, and typed in a blue font.

Also, generally from a viewpoint none of us had previously considered. So wise and intuitive and yet so young and beautiful.