1: Middle of the day:
busy at home, missing your husband, or running around at work, running errands, getting it all done somehow. Traffic light, a break in the rhythm, a few seconds of resetting.
Stop. Look around at the people near you. Look at the life.
I’m not one for sentimental, overly emotional pot-stirring, but we all need to make more moments of gratitude happen in our lives. In the midst of a frantic day, I can stop and see my happy, healthy kids and be grateful. At the end of a long, rough day, I can see the smile on my husband’s face and be thankful.
Don’t miss out on why you’re doing all the stuff you do.
2: Think of the last conversation you had with your husband.
Was it positive? Eh? What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you there…
3: Send a friend a text or FB message or voice mail just to tell her something you love about her.
Keep it short and sweet. You’ll be amazed at how much happier you feel when you focus on something positive and then do something positive with that focus. That action, s’powerful stuff, huh?
4: Stretch the muscles in your neck and shoulders.
Roll your head around. Release your shoulders, let them drop down. Look up, as far back as you can, then let your head drop to your chest. Breathe while you let your muscles relax. Women often hold tension in those neck and shoulder muscles. While you’re breathing, you might consider why you’re holding tension. Is it really helping? I think not, my peoples. Best to let that go now.
5: Dump the soda and drink a big glass of water.
6: Think about what you’ve accomplished in the day so far.
Not everything gets written on the to-do list, you know, but it all takes time. What have you done that you’re not giving yourself credit for; what are you accomplishing and overlooking at the same time?
Quit being so hard on yourself and start appreciating what you handle in a day by taking two minutes to acknowledge it.
7: Think of one particular thing you love about your kid(s).
Then say it. Aloud. To kid(s). Everybody likes to be acknowledged and appreciated. Everybody needs encouragement.
8: Write down one thing you want to do by the end of the day.
Take a nap? Read a book? Call a friend? Finish a project? Clean a room? Write an email? Cuddle your children? Hug your husband? Have ten minutes of silence without having to lock yourself in the bathroom and wrap a towel around your head? (Oh, um, is that one just me?) Writing things down helps you remember and make them important.
9: Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants. Just sayin’.
10: Get rid of all those papers
in your purse/on your counter/on your desk/in your car that have no excuse for existing. Gahhhhh with all the papers and how they procreate! It’s mess that stresses you out mentally. Trash it. Don’t stop to read them all!
Don’t waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour’s duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Oh how I need to exercise #10 more. I can’t figure out how I collect so much paper. Great tips.
thanks, Wanda! you’d think paper clutter would be less with so much digital, but I still seem to come up with stacks of it.