OS ways to combat feeling 'run down'

penny_less

Just thought I'd add our experience of last weekend. Dh and I have had quite a hard few months of late. Last weekend it was my 40th birthday, and we decided to have 2 days out. On sat we went to greenwich and went to the maritime museum and observatory(free entry), and on sun we went to hampton court palace (tesco deals vouchers for entry). The days out really only cost us the travel costs and were great.We also had 'easy' dinners, and did no housework/washing etc. Both of us said afterwards how we felt like we'd had a holiday! I just felt it might be worth a thought for those like us who can't afford a proper holiday at the moment- it might just be a bit of a break and would give a lift.

ceridwen

http://youtube.com/watch?v=N7IZmRnAo6s

Ladygrim

ceridwen wrote: »

http://youtube.com/watch?v=N7IZmRnAo6s

BRILLIANT!! :T :T

.... four candles anyone???

LG

liuhut

Moany - just wanted to pop in and say hope the thread has helped, it certainly has me...I've subscribed to it and am going to 'steal' some of thee ideas esp the one about knowing what sends you over the edge and avoiding/planning ahead....oh I wish I had the for-thought for that!!!

Thanks for starting the thread.
Laura XX

ppolly

What a nice thread. Having a nap almost always works for me. Also not doing things I'd planned to do 'for fun' if I really didn't feel up to it - on my birthday we had planned a family day out - but we were all recovering from a horrid virus and I decided I really didn't want to go - so I went and had a back massage instead paid for with some birthday money. Totally selfish, but oh so lovely and returned to my family a much nicer person after just an hour of self-indulgence.
I also stay off the caffine altogether and try and eat healthily. Exercise - just jogging seems to work really well, and meditation - its free! Stroking my cat. Eating a perfect piece of fruit really slowly. Reading something gentle, undemanding and fairly non-eventful, relaxation CDs, making bread, wearing bedsocks at night (when I'm run down I get very cold).

cats_whiskers

Hi

I certainly agree about a pamper evening in a nice warm bubblybath. Although always follow this with painting my toenails a bright colour which always makes me feel a little more glamorous. In winter my feet are normally hidden in socks and boots but every time I see my bright pink toenails it cheers me up.

Also agree with walking on grass or a trip to the seaside, walking on sand, a paddle in the sea (even if it is baltic), throwing stones in the water, followed by candyfloss or ice cream or if the budget can stretch fish and chips.

Anything that makes you feel a little pampered and special it does not have to cost the earth, maybe just something that you would not normally do, something for you. Instead of just going for a walk, take a picnic. In winter if we go out for a walk but do not want to spend too long out in the cold, we come home to "afternoon tea" with home made scones and jam or cake, I always set the table properly and make the tea in a teapot which is not normally something we usually do, but it just makes it feel a bit more special, like a break from the usual routine.

I also find a good read either a book or a magazine but usually also indulge in some sweets - the old fashioned kind like lemon sherbets or dolly mixtures, pear drops, rhubarb and custard - (showing my age) although they are getting harder to find.

How about having some bright flowering plants (although I do struggle to keep them alive) around the house or grow some in the garden, I agree that I find gardening therapeutic and rewarding. If you are able to grow seeds or cuttings you could have a ready supply of plants to pass on to friends who may be in need of a bit of colour or cheering up.

Keep smiling
Cats

In_Search_Of_Me

aww hugs for you...nothing worse than feeling naff!
A few things that work for me are;
-making sure I get enough sleep! I noticed when I went to bed at 10 (instead of 10.30-11) I got a better nights sleep & woke up refreshed
- not have coffee after lunch & limit tea to two cups
- got an allotment. Even though not much done on it (as weezl can now verify!) I love just pottering, listening to radio, birds, watching frog spawn develop and veg grow...
- Look at amazon for a book I like then go & order it from the library! (bit of a bookie & have thousands so am now banned from new ones!) which also means I made friends at the library!
- face pack & occasional mag as a treat! Now just read through tutting "how much" istead of looking enviously at ridiculously expensive dresses/make up/figues & realise how much I've changed ...
- make bread from scratch great after a bad day when kneading bread is a great anger management tool!
- breakfast in bed on sunday, with my own toast, marmalade, good book & 3 purring cats!
- watching the news (occasionally!) & realising what a lucky bunny I am, despite being in massive debt (my own doing!) I really can count my blessings; roof over my head, food, heating, people wh love me & a job where I get to make a difference
- taking controll of the things that got me down...stopped working so much & learned to take joy in simple pleasures (yesterday a hilarious afternoon with weezle harvesting nettles - see o/s vs usda thread
- seeing a good friend and having a lovely hug or chatting on the phone
- nice bubble bath to "wash" a bad day away
- painting my toes!

Hope that helps! Also a good weepy film if I need a good cry but cant quite manage myself!

squeaky

All of the above are good advice, and I've also found that going to bed at night in a good frame of mind helps ensure a decent night's sleep.

a) Make a written list of your "things to do" for the next day. (We all tend to hold the list mentally, and so we end up going over and over it, with lots of repeats, and so it will seem to be a whole lot longer than it really is. The written list defines and limits it.)

b) Read for a short while. NOT a heavy book, or a thriller, (they'll keep you awake wondering what happens next) but a nice gentle or humourous book that'll send you off to the land of nod with a smile.

Penelope_Penguin

Ladygrim wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu9MptWyCB8

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: They don't make 'em like that any more

If I'm feeling down, I'd agree with exercise, fresh air, plenty to drink, good fresh food, and plenty of rest.

Penny. x

sammy_kaye18

Bore da!

squeaky wrote: »

b) Read for a short while. NOT a heavy book, or a thriller, (they'll keep you awake wondering what happens next) but a nice gentle or humourous book that'll send you off to the land of nod with a smile.

Yeah and dont do a sammy_kaye and read a biography of someone who survived the holocaust before bed! You'll never sleep properly again! :eek:


And for all the people saying take a stroll on the beach/barefoot in the grass etc - have any of you ever lived in port Talbot!! :eek: Do you know how many bugs and stuff i'd catch?

Some of my favourite stress busters are me time things - like chucking on some stupid music and dancing round the house like a loony when theres noone watching. (chicos its chico time is pretty good) getting out with the dog and spending time with him, grabbing a girlfriend and going out to dinner and having a good natter is also nice even if it is just a jacket potato and coke!

i also find playing the xbox to be quite stress busting and rewarding when i actually manage to do something.

I do write millions of lists too for everything - i find this keep sme organised and when i do write it i make sure to include some me time things - liek yesterday was planting out all my veggie seedlinds into tubs - and i need to get more compost today to start otehr thigns too