NST AUGUST 2024

mothernerd

Thursday 15th August 2024

Start With Whatever Causes You Most Stress

STRESS The confusion created when one's mind overrides the body's basic desire to choke the living daylights out of someone who desperately needs it.

 When life is stressful , do something to lift your spirits ........ Go for a drive, go 2 or 3 thousand miles away. Maybe change your name.

The Best Ways of Coping With Stress
1)   IDENTIFY unhealthy coping mechanisms Social withdrawal, over-sleeping, too many fatty or sugary foods, mindless tv, smoking, drinking, over medicating, taking your stress out on others (outbursts, anger)
2)   BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE dance to your favourite song, walk instead of driving, walk your dog or borrow someone else's, take the stairs, find a friend to exercise with
3)   Build and Maintain RELATIONSHIPS Ask someone out to lunch, call an old friend, schedule one meeting with a friend at least once a week, sign up for an evening class or a club, consider voluntary work
4)   CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE think positive thoughts, speak positively, stop overthinking, set worry periods (short ones, forget about the problems the rest of the time), reframe life's challenges as opportunities, make a gratitude list, engage in active problem solving, find lessons, put it in perspective - will it matter in a year, avoid perfectionism, set realistic, practical goals.
5)   DEVELOP A 'STRESS RELIEF' TOOLKIT Walk in the woods, meditate, interact with an animal, book yourself a massage, watch comedy, contact one of your best friends, keep a journal, make herbal tea, have a hot bath, read a good book
(www.TheLawOfAttraction.com)
 

laura_lau

@mothernerd my blood was boiling when I was reading about your latest conversation with your niece. I can only imagine how you felt, she is being obstructive, selfish and a little bit cruel, as you have been doing so much and definitely do not need the added stress. I'm glad you can get some emotional support from your DS, and I truly hope you will be able to solve this soon!

I particularly enjoyed the post of today about stress. I do some of the things, but will make an effort to focus more on others too.

Yesterday went smoothly, I was a bit tired through the day but not too bad. It was good to be home, and seeing OH after 2 weeks, and also my little dog who was the happiest of them all, which always helps lifting the mood.

Today I had to come to the office, and have been trying to make it a mindful day, as there are not that many people around. This is making it a good day, which is a welcome surprise. 

After work I will go straight to the book club, so it's going to be a nice chatty evening. Today is not a NSD, as I ended up treating myself to a very rare fancy coffee after lunch, and even bought some fruit salad (luxury!). It wouldn't have been a NSD anyway, because of the book club, so it was a good choice to treat myself today rather than any other office day. 

On Saturday I have been invited to a barbecue and promised to make tiramisu and focaccia, so I have to remember to buy the ingredients today, so I don't waste an NSD tomorrow!

thriftylass

Hello fellow turtles. 

WFH today and had a slow start. Then gave myself a kick up the behind, had a pamper shower, some food and now going strongly. No idea how DH works from home all the time (he's away taking care of is dad as usual on Thur/Fri), I get constantly distracted by stuff I could do in the house. Got one wash in the machine, the one from two days ago is still out in the rain. Will spin that again once it stopped raining as it's meant to be sunny tomorrow. Although the last few days the weather forecast was changed from "it'll be sunny all day" to whatever it was in the morning, lol. 

Sorry I'm not replying much to topics like inheritance, taking care of relatives,illness of parents etc. As we got our own share of this just now (liked getting older till this kicked in) and I am dealing with it the ostrich method. DH is "self medicating" a lot more now but I want to avoid going there again. Trying to stay positive. Hugs

Have a good day

f0xh0les

Hugs @thriftylass

grandmanerd

Hugs Thriftylass

apple_muncher

More hugs for all you lovely turtles.

Today I am grateful for my gym session, for restoring a little more order to the kitchen, for dh's birthday cake (no candles cos we can't locate them 🤣), for pip spending the afternoon watching Spiderverse X2 with a friend, for our prescriptions being ready.

Thrifty_Taylor

Sending hugs, one day soon things will be better.

Loving these posts @mothernerd

NSD#7

After breakfast, I swept our driveway, then decanted one compost bay into a raised bed, then moved the contents of the other 2 along one bay. Filled the car up with stuff for the dump.

Hoovered up, then DS3 asked me to pick him up from the bus. When I returned home, my work bestie (who'd gone into work to get a classroom ready for when we go back next week) said she'd nearly finished & was ready to go for a walk. Collected a laptop from the secondary school for DS3, which had been in for repair. Had a good chat with the school secretary, we worked together years ago. Took everything to the dump & the member of staff helped me empty the car. Had a lovely walk with my friend.

Phoned DS1s insurer after his accident last week, then did the ironing. Taught DS3 to knit, he picked it up really quickly!! Then did sewing after tea.

Grateful for decluttering, chats with colleagues, a nice walk, the sun being out again & DS3 knitting

grandmanerd

Went to the library around 11 am to speak with the Bank Lady. I think we overran into her lunch break but she tried to get my card working again. I had to take it and try it in a bank cash machine and if it didn't work, I would have to use one at a branch of my bank (8 mile journey again). Some more transactions have gone out of my account (same source) so she agrees with me that I need to set up a new current account and a savings account. I will have to leave this account open as that is where the bank will put any refunds.

Went to a cash machine and the card did work with my new pin. I was still going to go to Bolton (I need to go some time for various reasons) but my foot was aching so I went back home. Very glad of that later as it rained heavily. It's not very far between the bus station and the bank but it's very open - a wide side street with shops and then the open square and I would have got drenched and had a miserable return journey in wet clothes. May do that today (might phone first to see if I have to make an appointment) and I have the optician's at 4 pm.

My 'to do' list is bugging me - I deal with one thing and end up with three more action boxes. I had to check if the card worked, I have to go to open new bank accounts and I need to phone up and speak to the fraud section again (and possibly Action Fraud). I still have about 4 phone calls to make - it's too easy for people to send you text messages telling you to do this that and the other. Had one about booking my flu jab and still haven't got back to the people who might give me options for weight loss/ exercise. 

It's very foggy today, the side of the Town Hall building (across the car park) is just a dark grey shape - the chimneys are the only visible features.

Grateful for lovely bank ladies, deciding against going to Bolton, having a rough plan (subject to change and simple tasks leading to more complex ones. 

grandmanerd

Friday 16th August 2024

Muddle, Confusion and Chaos

Pinterest doesn't seem to understand muddle properly. This is the best I could find,
When we don't prioritize our possessions or 'stuff' we end up just 'muddling through life' ....
Every choice will either become something we need or something we want. That's why prioritizing your purchases according to your core values and life goals are paramount. Otherwise most of your life and financial assets are 'muddled' away until you are hit by a crisis. Then you begin to wonder where your money went
(Sharon Benedict, Celebrating your journey, Life skills in synergy)

Sometime we need someone to simply be there. Not to fix anything or do anything in particular, but just to let us feel that we are cared for and supported.

CONFUSION
Be confused, it's where you begin to learn new things.
Be broken, it's where you start to heal.
Be frustrated, it's where you start to make more authentic decisions
Be sad, because if we are brave enough we can hear our heart's wisdom through it
Be whatever you are, right now
No more hiding
You are worthy, always 

lcc86

Evening turtles 

I have been naughty and spent the last two days. A friend from work and I went for a coffee yesterday at lunchtime, trying to schedule little things in when I can as a way of saying goodbye to people. Today I also bought a coffee, no real reason other than that I wanted one! I've also bought some train tickets for work/personal events next week as well.

I had a really late finish at work today so just time for dinner and a bath then time to relax for the evening.