We all find sometimes that life gets too much. Work is stressful, kids are cranky or naughty, the washing is piling up and you just want to cry.  I struggled with my moods a lot in my twenties when I would have the highest of highs followed by the lowest of lows. In a bid to help myself become more emotionally centered, I developed some coping strategies to help me get back to the happy relaxed Tory I would much rather be and I’m sharing them with you today.

Dance Like Nobody is Watching

This is a great one for when Bear is being a bit grumpy and it’s all too much. I’ve found my son finds it impossible to be upset when we are dancing and I do too. So I waltz him around the house to the Wiggles or shake it off to a bit of Taylor. Haters gonna hate hate hate hate indeed.

Treat YoSelf

This one takes a bit more planning admittedly but when life is just really blah I take myself off for a pedicure. It chills me out and then I have my pretty pretty toes to look at afterwards and smile.  Some may say its vain but I like having pretty toes.  If a pedicure isn’t possible, I’ll pop into the bathroom for a long soak with a book and then wrap myself in my Slytherin robe.  Just do something that makes you feel good about yourself.

Sing Sing Sing

This one happens in the car and helps me not bring the stress home. After a truly crappy day I belt out some  tunes on the way home. I have a playlist specifically for this purpose that features a ton of Alanis Morissette. My favourite is You Live You Learn off the Jagged Little Pill album. “You loooooooose, you leaaaaaaaaaaarn”.  That chick just gets me.

Dog Park

When I feel really bad this is the place to go. I can never feel sad with licky happy puppy dogs running around all over the place. Dogs are pretty awesome like that. They take joy in the simplest things in life – a warm patch of grass, someone who loves them. It’s a nice lesson.

Eat The Frog

Sometimes when life is really getting on top of me I do a task that makes me push myself like rearranging cupboards or laundry. Something where I can look at it and say yup that’s done. It gives me a sense of accomplishment that makes me feel better.

Take To The Bed

preferably with some great chocolate, terrible TV and a warm kitty cat. This is the nuclear option for me but sometimes you just need to shut the world out to be able to decompress and this is the best way to do it. Giggling toddler is optional.

 

Do you have a ritual to make you feel on top of the world again? Confess in the comments or join the linkup over at My Home Truths!