I’m convinced it is the little things that make life beautiful or unbearable. I can rise to the challenge of a true crises. I’m good in an emergency. But a crazy morning can get me down. Here are some things that help me on the hard days:
1. Make the bed. It’s amazing how much better I feel when I walk through a clean bedroom to get dressed . And how much sweeter it feels to climb into smooth sheets at night. Making the bed signals my brain that the day has started. And it makes me feel that life is a tiny bit less messy.
2. Wash the dishes. Or at least stack them in the dishwasher. It only takes a few minutes to deal with breakfast bowls, spoons, and glasses before I leave for work. It is much easier to face supper prep later if I don’t have to scrape Cheerios off the counter first.
3. Kiss my husband. Or hug my kids. Or pat the dog. Or call my mother. Or greet my neighbor. At the very least, I smile at the guy who picks up my garbage as I pull out of the drive. Relationships make everything better, and I try not to take them for granted.
4. Pray. Sometimes I write out long prayers. Sometimes I sing them. And sometimes I can’t even put a clear thought together. On those days, I read the Psalms and let my soul pray through someone else’s words. The point is to connect to God.
5. Empty my In-box. I try to take immediate action on everything that has come in overnight so they don’t nag me all day. I respond, delete, schedule, or file. If it happens to be a picture of my grandchildren, I open repeatedly throughout the day, however.
These little items of daily maintenance are the keys to keeping me sane. And optimistic, of course.
What works for you?
In no certain order:
Clean my desk. My work involves lots of projects so I always have about 10 folders going to keep track of them. They get scattered, notes get out of place. Taking the time to put it all in order makes a big difference sometimes.
Do the thing that is nagging me the worst. I have a constant to-do list for work, home, church, kids, etc. Sometimes there is one thing that just keeps nagging at my brain because I don’t have it done yet. If I can make time to get that one thing done, it frees my brain up to refocus on the next big task.
Let it go. No, not the Frozen song. I sometimes put immense pressure on myself to “take advantage” of something that should be good. It varies, but in general this is something that I can get for free with some time or work invested. Or making something from scratch that I normally buy. Or sewing my own replacement pillow covers for the pillow that has a rip. These are all worthy endeavors but if I am stressed about how to get it done, it’s hurting and not helping. I have learned to just delete that email about a good deal on something if you join the survey panel and agree to fill out periodic surveys. I buy sweetened condensed milk in a can instead of taking all day sitrring a crock pot to make my own. I just have to give myself permission to let it go and take the “easy” way out.
Balance the checkbook. I know, I know. For some this is just depressing, and it often is for me too. But just doing it makes me feel more in control of our life situation. We may not have much, but by golly it balances to the penny!
Listen to my kids, husband or friends. Usually when I am having a rough day it’s because I’m being selfish in some way. At it’s root depression is selfish. I know some people will argue this, but as someone who suffers from depression I feel pretty qualified to say it’s rooted in being self-centered. So I take time to LISTEN to someone else talk about their day or whatever. It helps to feel connected and takes me outside myself.
These are kinda weird things, but they work for me. 🙂
Carol, I’ve never in this lifetime been tempted to make my own sweetened, condensed milk. But the rest of your ideas resonate with me, too.
Right now it’s prioritizing. I only have so much energy in a day when I’m this pregnant, and I can’t really “just make” myself do things when that energy is gone. So today, it is 1pm. We have not started school. And I am commenting on a blog. BUT my kitchen that has lately been a disaster is spotless, and the girls folded and put away two loads of laundry. And we are all showered/ready for the day. In a few minutes, I’ll call them in from outside, and we’ll do schoolwork together on the couch. But I just couldn’t do it today in a cluttered house. Many days, the schoolwork beats out the house work. But if here have been days of no house work — I can only handle that for so long. 🙂
Dear Eleanor, please see Carol’s comment above to “Let it Go.” 🙂 I’m glad you know how to do that while you are busy growing another sweet human.
Since I read your book, I take my cup of coffee out to my back steps, sit on my John Deere bench that my children bought for me and send out my blessings to each of my children and grandchildren. I picture each of them and send out good thoughts their way. If I know of a special need, I include it, for example, less drama and more love, or confidence in their abilities in school. I do not know if it helps them, but it makes me feel better.
Oh, Judy, I love that so much. Could you send a few prayers my way for less drama and more love? Thanks!