The Gratitude Site » stress

Do I Have to Get Out of Bed Today?

Royale Scuderi — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:51:52 +0000

Do you ever have those mornings when you just want to cover up your head and dig under the covers and stay there for the whole day? Today was one of those days. I just did not want to get out of bed and face the day – too much to handle: over-committed, over-scheduled, under-rested and just generally overwhelmed. Ugh! That option just doesn’t exist in my reality, so I made myself get up and get going though it was not pretty. Sometimes we just reach the point of questioning whether we really can “do it all.” I have a very full life and I am sure that you do as well. But today I did not feel like being all those personas; a military wife, working mother of four, blogger, business owner, community volunteer and friend. I just wanted to SLEEP! I know you feel my pain, I know you do.

On my business blog today, Personal Productivity 101, I describe in detail the actual process I went through to facilitate my much needed version of at least a partial “mental health day.” If you’re interested in that, you can read it there, but on this site I like to talk about feelings, emotions and the more mental components of our lives. It’s all about perception and attitude. I could have chosen to complain and grumble through my day, which might have temporarily made me feel better, but certainly would have annoyed those around me and really would have just made the situation worse.

Instead, I made my list, determined what I needed in order to feel better and just put one foot in front of the other. First I wrote in my journal and drank my coffee, then headed downstairs to do my strength training( lifting weights just makes me feel stronger mentally as well,) and by the time I came upstairs to have breakfast with my son the heavy burden seemed to be lifting. We had a nice chat and I went on to make my to-do list, read my morning text from my husband and start my morning chores. By the time I sat down on the front porch in the sunshine to read with my son while we wait for the bus, I felt amazingly like I was the luckiest woman alive.

I remembered a conversation I had with my father once, some years ago. I was complaining about how busy I was and how demanding the kids were. I couldn’t wait until they were older, until I was retired, until my life slowed down. His simple response to my litany, “Don’t wish your life away, because some day you will wish you had it back.”

“Yes,” I thought, “I do have an extremely full and busy life and thank God for all of it!”

Have a wonderful day….I know I’m going to.

Are you Super Woman?

Royale Scuderi — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:45:20 +0000

I saw a bumper sticker awhile back that said, “I am woman. I am invincible. I am tired.” That sure sums up the way most of us live our lives. Who says we have to be perfect and do it all? Just because we can have and do anything we want does not mean that we must do everything! Cut yourself and your fellow woman some slack. Just stop right now! THE INBOX WILL NEVER BE EMPTY and THE TO-DO LIST WILL NEVER BE FINISHED! But wait, I hear you saying, “maybe if I just work a little longer or a little harder, give up another hour of sleep.” Wrong, we just keep adding to our list.

Are you ready to try? Kiss Super Woman goodbye!

There are three things we must do to make the shift:

Let go of the idea that you can do it all.
Ask for help! (Or delegate if you must.)
Be flexible – things come up, priorities change, plans fall apart.

Come on, give it a try. What have you got to lose? Perhaps a little stress!

Exercise

Royale Scuderi — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:54:47 +0000

I know, I know, we groan when we hear the “E” word, but exercise is an important factor to managing moods, attitude and energy. It can relieve stress, increase your “get-up-and-go” and is also the best thing you can do to maintain your health. Of course use your judgment and engage in appropriate types of activity for you and at a reasonable level of effort. I prefer to exercise alone and either clear my mind or use the time to focus on working out something that is bothering me. Others prefer the atmosphere and support of a group activity. Whatever you choose, as Nike says, “Just do it,” and you will be glad you did.