the thing about working way too much at a myriad of jobs that, while you're extremely grateful they pay all the sky-high bills associated with living in new york city and while you're extremely grateful they're still around while you're for the first time--at the age of twenty-five, mind you--learning how to save, they zap you of energy. because they are not the means to something else, they are not in any way associated with your great artistic loves.
and when you find yourself with a day off for the first time in...two weeks, maybe? maybe more? you don't get out of your pajamas until around three, and only then because the promise of target is too much to resist (because the promise of target is really the promise of st. ives apricot scrub, and a new lamp, and maybe a new pair of kick-around-summer-shoes).
the hardest thing about being exhausted all the time is that my healthy eating habits fly out the window. i confuse exhaustion for hunger and then guilt barrels in and before i know it i feel like i've taken two steps back.
so today, on this, my day-off. i plan to realign. i will head to target for the necessities (toilet paper, paper-toweling, and soap among other things). i will make a batch of cheesy kale chips to allow for healthy-snacking. i will clean the kitchen and the bathroom and scrub between my toes. i will light a candle and say a prayer and give thanks. i will reacquaint my body with some form of movement. i will organize the junk drawer that is more junk than drawer and i will try to be kind to myself. to forgive myself. to allow my mistakes and triumphs to live in harmony.
so, on this day--this day of "day-off" celebration, i ask you this...
when you feel like your little locomotive has jumped the tracks (the locomotive being your life, in case that was unclear) how do you get back on? what are the rituals you subscribe to that bring about balance and self-love and a little stability?
55 comments:
You should read this ...
http://therumpus.net/2011/05/dear-sugar-the-rumpus-advice-column-72-the-future-has-an-ancient-heart/
A cup of hot tea.
A mint julep face mask.
A John Hughes movie.
An afternoon on the porch scribbling away.
http://gracebefore.tumblr.com
pray pray pray and give it away.
I love a nice hot bath with a good book and some wine. The bath must have bubbles and it has to smell good. I also find that a chat on the phone with my mom or a good friend does wonders to help me reflect. It can't just be a short little call while you are really focusing your attention on something else. It needs to be a focused phone call complete with pjs or yoga pants, and the comfort of a fluffy chair. A walk outside in the sunshine also deos wonders. I hope you enjoy your day off!
Good question! I feel the same way, especially during seasons where I'm wrestling with a stressful job. I turn to prayer, cuddling up on the couch with a yummy latte and a great book, or a grounding phone call with my sister or best friend.
It's tough to find that balance though and give yourself space and time to breathe.
Praying for you!
When this happens I do not think about it, I do what I wanna do in each moment and I do not think about what I should do, that I should make the most of that time...blablabla... it depends on how I feel like, how I slept, the weather...
but a long walk with my little lola is always nice and If I can meet a friend it´s perfect. Otherwise the best is to stay with my almost husb.
Time for myself. When life gets off track, it's usually because I put too much on my own plate. So to get back on track, I put everything aside, if only for a few hours, and relax.
Getting caught up on sleep seems to make things magically better, and so does clearing off some of the piles on my desk.
i love days off. list making, my mellow playlist and dreaming. those usually help to fix everything.
I get off track every now and again, but it's usually during major stress. That's when I remind myself it's okay, because life is really hard sometimes and I don't want to add to it by being harder on myself. After that, I can get myself back on track. I sometimes just need a down day to get there though, or a day in the sun.
Just give yourself some love being human and having human moments, and you'll find the wherewithal to get back on track. :)
When I feel this way I look for a new job, new city, new anything to make me feel more like me. Working just to pay rent is not the ideal way to live, if you ask me. I'm currently in that situation and it's totally exhausting, physically and creatively.
maybe burn a prairie.
Laying in bed watching feel-good 80's movies, writing in my journal, and just allowing myself to be lazy and enjoy it. And I love your glasses! :)
Belly laughs with my favorite people. It puts everything in perspective and reminds me what is important in life!
I usually grab a cup of something hot, either coffee or tea or even milk, and pick up a good book and curl up with it. I try to go out for a walk too.
you are too sweet, i feel honored you are following my silly blog!
i would say talking to my best friend, knitting and watching friends re-runs does the trick for me. also, numerous iced coffee drinks.
I'm so there right now. It's finals week!
1. I think I need that recipe for cheesy Kale chips.
2. I usually go for a walk...but it has just got so dang hot in Texas that I can't really bear that anymore. If I had a tub I would do the whole bubble bath thing. If I had a pool I would swim.
I really just like to read your blog:)
I pray, and then take a nap (preferably with a snuggle mate be it my man or one of my babies), and then clean, clean, CLEAN because there is nothing like a spotless house to give me a little motivation and peace.
hurray on the day off!!!
and for not giving in to celebrating said fact (like i would) and eating greasy bar food ;)
i had a "me day" yesterday and it made a perfectly quiet monday so... refreshing? a date with myself is what i call it. i bought fresh ingredients to make pizza and parmesan popovers while listening to otis redding (oh that voice!)
all followed by a bubble bath, reading a book you can't put down, an excerpt you've underlined.
oh and a glass of wine.
prayer comes before slumber sitting outside on my back porch.
ps. beautiful photo and have i said enough thanksgiving for our little meet-up?! i'm a lucky girl to be "real life friends" with you now ;)
Diet coke with a lemon, a ten minute room clean, a good night's sleep, peanut butter m&ms, clean sheets with shaved legs, a workout (for my mind more than physical benefits), a good book, a deep breath, and the knowledge that tomorrow is a chance to begin again.
Hot tea, my journal (and the journal is always made of something i love: it has to be a pretty color, recycled pages, soft to the touch, or some other detail), fresh air. Exercise, and praying. Closing my eyes and counting my breaths. These are the ways I realign.
as a full time nurse working the midnight shift-- i know your pain all too well! that feeling of totally spinning out of control-- but being way too exhausted to even care. i'm still a work in progress--- but i've really really been trying to make time for things like keeping a clean living space, getting at least a mile run in, green smoothies, weeding the garden, rolling out the yoga mat, praying and lying on my back next to the record player.
pushing myself to get up and feed my spirit is always worth it--- even more so when i really don't want to!
enjoy every second of your day off!
ps: on my next trip to nyc--- your "knowing you in real life" premonition just might have to come to pass :)
a loooooooong shower, a great playlist, and cooking a healthy meal. then positioning myself in front of a pretty, quiet movie with a pen and paper and writing or, more likely, listing.
exercise for stress relief, a little cleaning, and reading a good book- sometimes even a super cheesy but awesome young adult novel (sarah dessen etc.) to seriously let my mind relax. i feel like it helps to not look at a screen for a while.
Ummm, apparently I go on a rampage, tackling anyone who makes one wrong move... and then... I make my boss take me to a fancy lunch and order me every dessert on the menu.
Perhaps I need to find a better way to get back to the norm, but the triple layer carrot cake was so good! ;-)
Prayer, writing in my journal, and doing things with friends. And reading. For fun.
Journal, good coffee, shopping, pedicure, workout, reading, cleaning, face masks, music, and candles. Sigh. xoxo
*sigh* I hear ya. A long talk with a good friend, cleaning (not exciting, as we all know, but an organized space DOES equal a happy, content me ;), a glass of red wine, and a tiny prayer sent heavenwards are the things that help me.
A hot bath with a glass of wine and my bible.
(Wont' be having wine for a while with this bun in the oven, but I'll tell you, nothing really gets me back on track than a hot bath, wine and jesus.)
;) ps, love your blog. You are a gorgeous little lady and those glasses are super cute on you!
Whoever said: Ten minute clean and clean sheets with shaved legs is SO spot on! Also, I love to sit on my back porch watching the trees dance in the breeze and listening to the orchestra of the birds, crickets, bullfrogs, and rustling leaves. Maybe you could in Central Park? I also like to dream of what I will be when "I grow up." You're awesome!
prayer, herbal tea, baking and shaving my legs. and blogging of course.
I walk. And walk and walk. And maybe run. And then walk some more. And while I do all of this moving, I watch and make up stories and revisit some of my own.
And then, of course, I call the person I know will satisfy that moment--which is usually Mom. Or Sam. Or that person you've really meant to call, and really did WANT to call, but never seemed to find the five minutes to actually call.
Oh, and there's usually tea involved throughout the day. And peanut butter. And, when it's warm outside, fresh lemonade.
Sleep calms me down.
Fresh air (unless it's super cold).
Book stores.
Pajamas.
Occasionally, comfort food haha.
For me, what works is yoga and meditation. Toss in a few outdoor activities like the beach/hiking/working out and add a little crossing things off my to do list. That's what centers me. =)
a cup of tea, a bath and something really great on netflix.
OR a really lovely chat with a friend all the way across the country (hint hint)
also, i spy my card :)
I lounge around until I'm awake enough to exercise. Then I shower and get ready. Next I treat myself to something delightful, lunch at Zupas, Gurus, Cafe Rio, or Olive Garden. I meet with friends or take refuge in my apartment; watch a movie, cook something, then, life is good again :)
That book is awesome!
"...and i will try to be kind to myself. to forgive myself. to allow my mistakes and triumphs to live in harmony."
that is indeed the hardest part, of which i am all too familiar with.
what i do, am doing, is to try not to hold it in. talk to your best friend. get it down on paper. just get it out of your head and off your shoulders in one way or the other.
in addition, a good hike in nature and taking lots of photos helps relax a little too :)
enjoy your day off sweetie!
best wishes from norway
I mostly pray and spend time reading the Bible, writing my journal, getting in all out. Then I make a list to see things clearer and then I start little, bit by bit
-minty green tea
-hot bath (+book)
-long run
-green smoothies for every meal
instant feeling of balance.
Ah I usually give unsolicited advice, so a post where you're actually asking for it? Amazing.
My suggestion - set a few goals. Longer and medium-ish term goals, like a couple weeks/months out. I find that when I'm working towards something, even if it's not that big, like a day trip or applying to a certain number of jobs by a certain day, that it really motivates me to keep on keeping on.
Hope that helps!
xo
Clean, clean, clean. Everything feels better with a clean apartment.
This is a fantastic post! And I love that picture of you! I'm not really sure what I do to get back on track. I suppose I get things in order, whether that means cleaning my living area or setting some priorities/goals, and then I focus on living those goals.
a few little things that help me feel more stable: 1. taking time to create healthy meals and snacks - i do SO much better when i eat well. 2. updating my planner - being able to see what's ahead of me gives me the focus i need to tackle everything. 3. cleaning and organizing my space - anything from clearing off my desk, washing my sheets or vacuuming. 4. drinking a cup of tea.
enjoy your day off!
a few little things that help me feel more stable: 1. taking time to create healthy meals and snacks - i do SO much better when i eat well. 2. updating my planner - being able to see what's ahead of me gives me the focus i need to tackle everything. 3. cleaning and organizing my space - anything from clearing off my desk, washing my sheets or vacuuming. 4. drinking a cup of tea.
enjoy your day off!
I make sure I get enough sleep. Pray, shower, eat something healthy, throw open a window, blast fantastic music, and get to it.
Dream about where you want to be in the next month, year, 10 years. Clean something, or if you're not feeling it, at least pick up. Less clutter will let you sit back and figure things out. Embrace how you feel, and have a martini. It's difficult when life feels so off track, but what's the fun in staying the course all the time?
This describes my life perfectly. I teach high school during the days, teach at the prison Monday nights, babysit Tues, Wed, and Thurs nights, and babysit again all day Sunday. Sometimes I even take babysitting jobs on Friday nights or Saturdays, leaving me with zero days off. It's so difficult to juggle. My apartment suffers, my clarity suffers, and sometimes my body suffers. It's so important to realign. Lately I have been forcing myself to exercise each day, even if for only 25 minutes. Also, coffee helps me. And bubble baths.
i think i agree with most of the comments. it's funny how we all unwind in similar ways. i definitely think that not only is prayer important, but also reading the Bible. if i get off track it's usually because i've forgotten or not been conscious of the all the truth and wisdom God has given us.
I would LOVE the recipe for those kale chips!!
I hear ya!
I sleep for as long as my body needs. Then I clean hardcore, and reorganize my room/throw out what I call "unnecessaries." Like crap I'll never use. I'll clean my Jeep which is a huge hassle but in the end I feel better. I sweat tons from cleaning and I LET myself sweat like I've never sweat before, cuz then I take a shower like Im at the spa. Sweet exfoliation. Followed by icy cold water to cool me down. Once im out of the shower Im pamper my skin some more. Change my bedsheets to crispy fresh ones and knock out again. :)
oh i know this feeling too well. this is my medicine:
-pandora "vampire weekend" or "matt pond pa" radios, on blast in the kitchen (the best acoustics)
-the baking of banana bread in said kitchen.
-episodes of "late night with jimmy fallon", because no man makes me laugh more or make me get out of a funk more quickly.
-i write. and write. on napkins, the back of my hand. it doesn't have to mean anything. it can be the same word over and over,or quotes i really adore, but writing sort of puts me in a meditative state where nothing really affects me.
-a good face mask. a dog to pet. and a goofy conversation with a best friend.
-bubble baths and a clean room. and getting rid of clothes i really don't care for.
xo
Oh sooo true thats how I feel about Los Angeles from time to time
I love all of these responses! It's so much fun to read about the rejuvenating rituals of others. For me, nothing gets me back on track quite like sleep. Plain and simple. Does the trick every time. :)
Oh goodness me I know the feeling all too well. I just had my first real day off in over a month. I fear nothing really productive was done. Except I did dishes, multiple loads of laundry, and finished a presentation. So things did get done just not all of the things I had to do. So I guess my way to cut myself some slack is to list all of the things I did get done. Then I realize the day wasn't wasted :)
I'm glad you had a day off.
love your blog!
where is that adorable little vampire book from? I can't seem to find it anywhere
Post a Comment