Dealing with Stress

Last week I wrote this post about how we need to remember that someone else is always going to be busier than we are and that we have to take the time to be grateful for what we’ve got. Well, we all know how life does love to test us, and ever since I wrote that post I have certainly been tested!

After breaking dishes, shrinking expensive sweaters, putting my To Do list in the washer (…and then the dryer), writing 2 quizzes in a class for a book I haven’t been able to read (they ran out of books at all the bookstores in our city- not even joking- so about 1/4 of the class hasn’t read the book. And yet we’re still being quizzed on this. Fairness?), still not owning a dresser, and being unable to find a kitchen counter for the new apartment (I am missing cooking so much!), I have been very close to tears multiple times in the past few days. And yesterday after a cold bike ride in the rain on my way to work, I arrived at work to realize that my new white coat was covered in mud. Normally, I don’t mind the rain. But seeing my lovely little coat completely ruined caused me to break down and start crying (punctuated with lots of “but-I-know-I-have-it-so-good-and-this-is-so-ridiculous-to-be-crying-over-and-its-only-a-coat-for-goodness-sake!). It’s a good thing I work with my mum. No other boss would be able to give the much-needed hug that a mother can give!

So when I came across this page, 12 Ways To Simplify Your Life, I read through it with great interest. My thinking is that it is not so much that my life is so crazy right now, but that I’m not doing as good a job of time management as I could be doing.

And wouldn’t you know it, but I’m doing just about everything on that darn list already! Be that as it may, it’s a great list with useful tips. But if anyone has any other tips to offer, I think that all of us would welcome them eagerly!

Something that I have found that helps me deal with stress better is to take a break from my work entirely and spend a couple minutes learning about something brand new and interesting that I wasn’t aware of before. Like this: prosthetic ears! Medical research today is really wonderful. Do share if you’ve discovered something new lately!

Another thing that can help is looking at old photographs. Really. They are great for thinking about some good times we’ve had and can help us to relax a little more, ready to tackle the small irritations that come up during our day to test us. The pictures that made me smile? Right here (all of these are from the Italy trip- but were taken by one of the other people that I traveled with):

This one is just such a beautiful angle- taken from a museum.

In a botanical garden- a huge huge aloe plant.

Reminds me of a magazine! Baths at Pompeii (check out my sweet sweet hat!)

We climbed up onto the amphitheater in Pompeii- I don’t think tourists are supposed to go up there. But hey, we can’t spend our whole lives following the rules, right? We need some fun adventuring in our lives!