Calming Down …

 

I have given myself exactly fifteen minutes to write today because I need it to help me calm down.

Things are a bit crazy over here right now. There are some big things going on which require my time, focus and concentration. Sadly, I am not good at focusing and concentrating, so I have had to implement some strategies to help me get things done and remain calm.

Here are a few of the things I have promised to do for myself each day to help me be successful and calm, in no particular order:

1. Read my scriptures every day. The Hubby and I have been on a roll and have now read every day for the past 141 days. I look forward to that time of contemplation and enlightenment.
2. Move my body every day. I am exercising for about 40 minutes each morning. It is hard. I don’t love it. But I do love how I feel afterwards and it is helping me to sleep so much better. By the way, have I mentioned I have sleep issues?
3. Make a list each night before bed of the things I have to do the next day. I write everything from scriptures to exercise to blogging down because I like checking things off of lists.
4. Attack things like laundry and housework in small, non-intimidating chunks. This means I do two loads of laundry from washed to put away every day. I also clean a bathroom or vacuum and dust a floor of the house. But I never do it all at once. This means the whole house is never clean, but I’m okay with that.
5. Call one friend or my mom or a sister each day. I feel the stress leaving my body as my chats with them help me decompress.
6. Spend one on one time with the kids. I read Harry Potter to Oliver or go on a walk with Soren. Late at night I go in and lay on Hannah’s bed and we talk about her day. I need to feel connected to them in real and meaningful ways.
7. Say no to things or let go of things that simply stress me out. Sorry friends that I couldn’t do a ladies night last weekend. And teachers, I really do appreciate you, but there will be no end of the year gifts from my kids – just a handwritten note of gratitude.

I have found that if I do these things each day, my mind is clear and able to work on the larger tasks in front of me. It has really helped me feel calm inside. When I’m not totally freaking out.

One last thing I do is cut flowers from my yard, put them in my house to make it beautiful, and take pictures of them so their beauty will be with me forever. Serenity now.

And I still have two minutes and twenty-four seconds left. Sweet!