Showing posts with label relax. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relax. Show all posts

Wednesday

"The Book of Me, Written by You" - How do you De-Stress?

This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations.
This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
This is a journey of finding yourself and how your loved ones see you in their eyes. Further, this can be online and carried forward to share, if you wish, to future generations. - See more at: http://joannfitz.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/the-book-of-me-written-by-you-topic-1.html#sthash.2TuO2bVu.dpuf
The prompt for the week is:    
How do you De-Stress?
The Brief:
  • Read
  • Swim
  • Walk
  • Music
  • Yoga
  • Sport
  • Anything else?
  • What triggers your acknowledgement that you need to de-stress?
  • Headaches
  • other pains?
  • What triggers you stress?
  • As always, share what you feel comfortable - anything from nothing to.....your choice!
De-Stress? What's that? Hmmm I better look it up...Ok I found it. According to Merriam Webster encyclopedia, it says:

"to relax your body or mind : to stop feeling the effects of stress"

I think this prompt is going to either be a very short or one that is very informative. 


The short answer


What do I do to de-stress or destress? The answer is actually very easy - I don't. I'm usually on the go go go or the body is still but the mind is constantly on the go. I do try and relax just a bit by reading, listening to music, cuddling with our dog, Buddy, and a few other things, but even while doing these things, my mind is still going 100% strong.

The longer answer

I'm basically a time poor person. People have asked me why I'm so time poor at the moment due to not working full time and I should be less stressed than when I was working full time. Yes, this is a good point; however, just because I'm not working full time doesn't mean that I am busy. While I'm not working full time, I do work part time as a teacher of IT in 2 different places when there are enough enrollments. Then I'm currently taking classes, I believe its a full time student course load, and I try and write on each blog (which means 2 because I have this one and an IT blog) once a week. Further, lately I've had some medical issues crop up (and have had 2 day surgeries within 6 weeks of each other) and we've had 3 people ( 1 friend, 1 a close family friend and my husband's grandmother) who have passed away. Then we have been helping with getting my husband's grandmother's estate settled and have my mother in law understand what is happening (not easy this one!). This is on top of all of my other commitments. Then add in physical therapy for my shoulders and normal day house things, and you can see...not much time is left.

With the little bit of time that is left, I try and manage to clean the house, do the shopping, and go for walks to get both the blood pressure down AND loose the weight/manage the sugar due to a doctor diagnosing me with Type 2 diabetes which is controlled by diet and exercise.

Part of the screen for relaxing at calm.com
Because of all the stresses, I know I've got to try and relax. When I was living in the US, I had cassette tapes which I listened to to relax - it had sounds of waves, rain, and other types of things. I've downloading an app called Calm which I've been using for about a week now. I have to say I think its helping, because if I can't sleep and my mind keeps going, I put this on with using the headphones and it does relax me enough to go to sleep.
taken to

People say to walk or swim or some other physical exercise but not before bed. I could go out and walk down the road and back and I'll be ready for bed and I'd still be stressed. Besides, while I go for the walk or swim my mind is still going...for instance, I was out on a long walk just yesterday and instead of clearing my mind I was actually going through my ancestry of each side of my family and trying to figure out how to get past the brick walls I've hit - not exactly relaxing. Today, when I went for my walk, I was actually doing a planning schedule of a class I'm currently teaching. There just doesn't seem to be an off button.

De-stress? 
I don't think I can... I live on it and thrive. The doctors have all asked me about this and I told them the same thing. My physical therapist asks me each time he sees me about stress and he always asks me if I'm going to slow down...If I could I would is my standard response! 

I've even looked at websites for help in de-stressing....

20 Scientifically-Back Ways
Twelve Ways to destress

As you can see, most of the websites have even listed the ways I've addressed above. I have tried each of these, but it just doesn't work...Even on holidays/vacations I'm usually stressed. *sigh* Eating chocolate? I'm there. Take a walk? I've tried it and the mind keeps going. Just sit still. Did it but the mind is long gone at about 100mph.

Like I said above, the calm website and app are both great and seem to be working, so let's hope it stays that way. The doctor's will be happy if nothing else...


  Check back for the continuation of "The Book of me, Written by You" series.