Thursday 17th February - Feel Good in Five - again

 After a week of dull grey days, I find I have become a bit dull and grey myself.

Time to take action!

Sometime in 2020 I got hold of  a book called 'Feel Better in Five' 

in many ways it is hopelessly aspirational; the author is photographed in a lovely garden (his?) doing yoga or cardio exercises, or in a modern, streamlined, clutter-free kitchen (also his?) drinking some healthy freshly-made green smoothie; I'm sure you get the picture. 

But the 'plan' is very sensible - he says (if I remember correctly) that if you choose one each from a selection of activities in the book which address your body, your mind, and your well-being, so that's three activities in total, none of which take much time, and if you do these for five days a week, you should feel better.

So, when I find the grey days piling up, I go on my own version of the plan;

do some not particularly taxing exercises - a bit of stretching, a few knee raises, a little neck mobility (turning my head from side to side)

Take his advice to go out into the garden, or at least stand on the back door step, for five minutes, maybe with a cup of tea or coffee, and just see what there is to be seen,

Do just one small household task - today I cleaned the bathroom basin - every day

This last is my addition; deal with one piece of admin/work/correspondence - every day (writing this blog is a procrastination as I do need to write up and email yesterday's piano lessons).

All very small steps, but they add up to a feeling of accomplishment which jollies me along.

Regarding exercises; I'm finding that a suggestion from somewhere else (where? can't remember) that is you want to build an exercise habit, start small - say 'I'll just do one knee raise and that will be it done' really works for me; having done one, it seems silly not to do a couple more.... and before I know it I am over-achieving before I've even put my shoes and sock on!

The daffodils are in flower! Hooray! I saw them when we went out to 'storm-proof' the garden earlier this morning. These are almost hidden, as the border hasn't had its 'spring chop' yet.  

There are loads all under the back hedge.

The layered up crocus, tulip and daffodil tubs that I planted back in November are looking promising too. I've put the bulbs in several very tall pots so I can gt them out easily and plant something else in the tubs later.

13th October - Climbing out of the pit - The 15 minute rule

There are a number of jobs and tasks that come my way that I really don't, DON'T want to do. They hang around the edges of my life like a bad smell that won't go away.

For example;

The Tax Return - probably at the top of the list (and still not done).

http://www.wikihow.com/Take-Minutes

Writing up Committee Meeting minutes (a thing of the past, and never to return, I hope)

Writing Christmas Cards - looming up on the near horizon. I have a friend who writes hers in the Summer holidays (!)

Cleaning the Oven.

Ironing Clothes.

Tidying up.

You get the picture? Then I came across this genius idea:

15 minute rule

So simple - you set yourself a time limit of 15 minutes to tackle as much of the task as you can get done in that time, and deal with the rest another time. So, in 15 minutes; 

I can get down the box where I dump all the paperwork that accumulates over the year for my Tax Return, and organise them into folders for payslip / bank / receipts, and put them back, knowing that the next phase of the task will be that much easier.

I can get through about three or four pages of the address list for Christmas Cards (hint, start at the end of the list on alternate years, just in case you never quite complete this task before Christmas. That way everyone gets a card at least every other year)

And so on. Having made a start helps get rid of that "ugh" feeling. Sometimes I even find that time has run away with me and I have accidentally completed the task... happy happy happy!

Saturday 15th August 2015 - Climbing out of the pit - a series

I was having a conversation with someone recently who is feeling low. What can you do, when your world has changed, and will never be the same again?

(If wishes were horses, beggars would ride)

I reckon everyone goes through that situation, to a greater or lesser degree, at some time. Certainly, in our family, that has happened to each and every one of us. So I said I'd do some posts on things that have helped me climb back up from The Pit when I've either fallen, or been pushed, into its grimy depths.

Let's be very clear; I'm not talking about Depression with the Big D here. I've never experienced it, and I wouldn't presume to advise anyone in that state. I'm talking about feeling despondent, overwhelmed, stuck, exhausted, tearful, totally-had-enough. I've been there enough times before. 

I think that once you've recognised that you've got into that state, then that's Step1 accomplished. I also think that celebrating success is extremely important. (I once got a job, in spite of being under-qualified and having no direct experience of class teaching on the basis of casually remarking that "success breeds success" in the interview...)

So, well done. You've acknowledged that you're NOT okay. Celebrate and feel good about it, because now you can move forward!