Stress Less

18 Jan 2011 4 Comments

by junegirlsramblings in Uncategorized

Okay so 2011 is here and I am coming up to the end of my break, soon it will be back to the busybusy and goodbye to the sleepins and relaxing days filled with nothing, or something depending on the mood.

I have loved spending this time with my kids, learning a bit more every day about them as people. They are really funny, and bossy and interesting.

My main goal for this year is to stress less, to better balance the needs of the family, the demands of managing the household, my job, my personal goals of finishing my study, and trying to keep a strong marriage with my husband. To better balance all those things with just living, having fun, enjoying myself and the people around me.

I really want to give my friendships the attention they deserve this year. I find it so easy to let the busybusy take over and before I know it it’s been months since I had a conversation that went any deeper than “How are you?’ “Yeah fine, how bout you”. Let alone making new friends, it can be so awkward and if you miss the moment you can miss the chance to reach out to someone who you really like and would like to get to know more. I’d hate to think what it’s like dating now if saying to someone “Hey I like you, how bout getting some lunch or something” makes me feel like such an idiot.

Stress less…. how do I intend on doing that? Well this is the plan.

1. Limit time spent with people who make me feel bad, you know the ones, they give you backhanded compliments, criticise, dwell on the negative aspects of their lives, also the people who for one reason or another I have been trying to force a friendship with. Sometimes there really isn’t a reason why two people just cannot maintain a relationship, personalities that just don’t quite mesh, for the last few years I have been blaming myself for this, must be that I am being unreasonable, or there is some flaw in my character. I am really ready to let go of this and move onto discovering new friendships that feel natural, that don’t make me feel, well, crap. Maybe it really isn’t me, maybe it’s them! wouldn’t that be freeing!

2. Cut myself just a small break. This is going to be a tough one as I have a mega bitch of an inner critic. She is going to have to go take a chill pill this year though as I have finally realised I don’t need her telling me all the things I do wrong because I am only human and inherently imperfect and that’s really okay with me. Hear that Mrs Perfect, get stuffed!

3. I always come back to Yoga and it makes me feel so good, some of my first memories are of watching my mother do headstands in the lounge room and doing those freaky Yogi tummy rolling exercises. This year I want to find a meditation class and make it stick, just an hour a week to help me get my breathing under control and bring my cortisol levels back down from space. That and make my Yoga an unbreakable date with myself a few mornings a week.

4. Friendships for me with Women who make me laugh, who support my goals, who don’t take life to seriously and encourage me to do the same are a big part of staying calm. Life is stressful and shit really does happen, every bloody day. Having a laugh, a hug, a cry or just gossiping your ass off helps. It also helps when they ply you with alcohol (I don’t drink enough, I think that’s part of my problem). I am going to take chances this year, not be afraid to sound like an idiot, set up lunch dates, ring people on the ACTUAL telephone  -shocking no! do better at staying in touch with beloved friends and family who’ve moved overseas, meet up with friends with and without the kids and for god sakes get out more with my Husband.

Anyway those are some of my ideas for making this year a better, calmer one, and if I fumble as I adjust to my changing outlook on things and I fail to keep promises to myself and I get shot down when I take a chance, then I am okay with that. I will just keep on going and not let everything get to me so much.

Peace out.