Day 8 & 9 - Destressors
My Big list of Destressors, Continued!!
1. Reading a good book for at least 30 minutes
2. jogging/elliptical
3. Going for a walk with Christian
4. Sitting and really enjoying a glass of wine or a beer.
5. Taking a bubble bath
6. Lighting candles
7. Manicure
8. Pedicure
9. Meal out
10. Work on planning a fun upcoming event
11. Play board games with friends
12. Play video games
13. Cross stitch
14. Cook a meal with Christian
15. Go to the movies
16. Exchange backrest with Christian (or get a massage chair)
17. Learn/practice crochet or knitting
18. Scrapbook 1 page
19. Try a new workout class
20. Try a new recipe
21. Try a couples cooking class
22. Make a To Do List of tasks that need to be done LATER so that I can enjoy the moment
23. Call a friend back home to chat
24. Write a letter to friend/family/penpal
25. Decorate for an upcoming holiday
26. Make Decorations for an upcoming holiday
27. Work on plans for upcoming holiday (or birthday)
28. Tackle the biggest thing that's stressing me out that I have control over
29. Go Hiking
30. Do a workout video
31. Do some resistance/weight training
32. Go with Christian for frozen yogurt or gelato
33. Find a new knitting pattern for me to do online
34. Spend some time watching crafting videos online for ideas
35. Watch a really funny, laid back film
36. Write out my frustrations
37. Take a nap
38. Practice Medication/Breathing Techniques
39. Write down 5 Things I'm grateful for
40. Hang out by the pool/go swimming
41. Do something nice for Christian
42. Tidy up the house
43. Do something to make our house a little nicer
44. Spend a little time decluttering a section of our house
45. Spend some time cuddling with the cat
46. Spend some time playing fetch with the cat (Yes, Bowser plays fetch)
47. Find a new recipe to try for the upcoming week
48. Work on making a list of healthy recipes to try/that we already love
49. Spend time really doing my makeup.
50. Do beauty routine on face (wash/mini facial/etc.)
51. Do beauty routine on hands (marykay hand care I love)
52. Use Parafin Hand/Foot Wax softener
53. Spend some time working on the novel
54. Listen/Dance to a favorite cd
You know it's funny. Every day I feel like this list is going to be harder and harder to work on. And I've got 50 down now and am almost half way done and yet every time I sit down to work on this it's like a flood of ideas that I hadn't thought of before. Some of them are about relieving stress directly (progress) while others are about pampering myself or just enjoying life (reward). I like the blend and I think both sides to the destressing are equally important.
As someone who adores productivity, if there's one thing I've learned from this list it's to really think about the balance I need in my life. Being productive is good, but I need to balance that out with doing nice things for me or the stress builds. Progress can be a stress relief, but if it's all your focusing on and never get that reward? Then it's just another thing adding to the stress. And then you end up crashing as I have in the past.
I feel like I've spent too much of my last year or so flip flopping between being Super Productivity Girl and Worthless Couch Potato Girl. I don't really want to be either. If I could have one focus of 2012 it would be to be the Get the Most Out of Life Girl. Work Hard. Play Hard. Pamper Often.
I think when I'm done with my list, I'm going to break it down into the two categories (Progress and Reward) so that based on my mood, I can choose which one to focus on. Super exhausted and need a break? Reward! Super stressed and overwhelmed? Progress. Hopefully I can balance a healthy amount of both into my week. I think that's going to be my next set of 21 days after this one. Do at least one Destressor daily and to find balance between the two sides.
Once I'm caught up at work, I'd like to start a MASSIVE decluttering project as one of my 21 days projects. Christian and I are planning on moving into a nicer place with his best friend in the fall, and I want only the things we really use/love/enjoy to make that transition. In order to make sure that's a reality. There's no time like the present to start. Right now I'm just focusing on one area a week.
This blog ended up being much larger than I expected today. ;)
1. Reading a good book for at least 30 minutes
2. jogging/elliptical
3. Going for a walk with Christian
4. Sitting and really enjoying a glass of wine or a beer.
5. Taking a bubble bath
6. Lighting candles
7. Manicure
8. Pedicure
9. Meal out
10. Work on planning a fun upcoming event
11. Play board games with friends
12. Play video games
13. Cross stitch
14. Cook a meal with Christian
15. Go to the movies
16. Exchange backrest with Christian (or get a massage chair)
17. Learn/practice crochet or knitting
18. Scrapbook 1 page
19. Try a new workout class
20. Try a new recipe
21. Try a couples cooking class
22. Make a To Do List of tasks that need to be done LATER so that I can enjoy the moment
23. Call a friend back home to chat
24. Write a letter to friend/family/penpal
25. Decorate for an upcoming holiday
26. Make Decorations for an upcoming holiday
27. Work on plans for upcoming holiday (or birthday)
28. Tackle the biggest thing that's stressing me out that I have control over
29. Go Hiking
30. Do a workout video
31. Do some resistance/weight training
32. Go with Christian for frozen yogurt or gelato
33. Find a new knitting pattern for me to do online
34. Spend some time watching crafting videos online for ideas
35. Watch a really funny, laid back film
36. Write out my frustrations
37. Take a nap
38. Practice Medication/Breathing Techniques
39. Write down 5 Things I'm grateful for
40. Hang out by the pool/go swimming
41. Do something nice for Christian
42. Tidy up the house
43. Do something to make our house a little nicer
44. Spend a little time decluttering a section of our house
45. Spend some time cuddling with the cat
46. Spend some time playing fetch with the cat (Yes, Bowser plays fetch)
47. Find a new recipe to try for the upcoming week
48. Work on making a list of healthy recipes to try/that we already love
49. Spend time really doing my makeup.
50. Do beauty routine on face (wash/mini facial/etc.)
51. Do beauty routine on hands (marykay hand care I love)
52. Use Parafin Hand/Foot Wax softener
53. Spend some time working on the novel
54. Listen/Dance to a favorite cd
You know it's funny. Every day I feel like this list is going to be harder and harder to work on. And I've got 50 down now and am almost half way done and yet every time I sit down to work on this it's like a flood of ideas that I hadn't thought of before. Some of them are about relieving stress directly (progress) while others are about pampering myself or just enjoying life (reward). I like the blend and I think both sides to the destressing are equally important.
As someone who adores productivity, if there's one thing I've learned from this list it's to really think about the balance I need in my life. Being productive is good, but I need to balance that out with doing nice things for me or the stress builds. Progress can be a stress relief, but if it's all your focusing on and never get that reward? Then it's just another thing adding to the stress. And then you end up crashing as I have in the past.
I feel like I've spent too much of my last year or so flip flopping between being Super Productivity Girl and Worthless Couch Potato Girl. I don't really want to be either. If I could have one focus of 2012 it would be to be the Get the Most Out of Life Girl. Work Hard. Play Hard. Pamper Often.
I think when I'm done with my list, I'm going to break it down into the two categories (Progress and Reward) so that based on my mood, I can choose which one to focus on. Super exhausted and need a break? Reward! Super stressed and overwhelmed? Progress. Hopefully I can balance a healthy amount of both into my week. I think that's going to be my next set of 21 days after this one. Do at least one Destressor daily and to find balance between the two sides.
Once I'm caught up at work, I'd like to start a MASSIVE decluttering project as one of my 21 days projects. Christian and I are planning on moving into a nicer place with his best friend in the fall, and I want only the things we really use/love/enjoy to make that transition. In order to make sure that's a reality. There's no time like the present to start. Right now I'm just focusing on one area a week.
This blog ended up being much larger than I expected today. ;)