Chicken bald back

[beach chick]

I'm stressed out. school summer holidays (1 week in), and I have more work than I know what to do with... 2 4page newsletters to write in the next 3 weeks with all the copy changes, layout advice and checking that involves, a major event to organise and handle all media relations for at start of Sept, plus all the other work stuff (I'm freelance, so cant say no!). kids all over the place, who are very good, but even so...

how do you cope with stress? apart from the obvious 3 or 4 glasses of red of an evening? the only thing I can do that takes my mind off it is 30 mins riding once a week, plus lobbing grapes at the chickens but that doesnt make it go away!!

[Chickpea]

I find coming on here quite thereputic! Log in, read on, chill out! (with a large glass of wine, Or in my case tonight Whisky and ginger!)

[starboyhull]

Oh the hard stuff tonight Lucy, can tell its almost weekend

[BeckyBoo]

run a hot steamy bath with all the windows shut so it gets really steamy, lots and lots of bubbles, candles round the edge, glass of cold white wine, good book then just before you get in open all the windows so you can watch the steam billowing out into the sky, lie back, chill out, ignore kids, ignore OH, ignore phone. Steam til chilled, return to normal life! I only manage that once in a blue moon but it's lovely. Specially if you follow it up with lots of Body Shop Olive Oil Body Butter, then spray liberally with Givenchy Very Irresistable.

 

Or just bypass most of that and go straight for the wine! And remember, you can only do what you can do.

 

Mrs B

[Cate in NZ]

Beach chick, I've got to admit to not being great with stress myself, I tend to let it build up and build up until I'm practically fizzing with it and then I erupt Vesuvius style . I don't erupt often I hasten to add, maybe an annual event, but it's not a pretty sight, the children run to take cover and I feel ashamed of myself afterwards (but also a whole heap better ).

I think exercise helps me, venting my frustrations in the swimming pool usually, or going for a short run (I don't do long runs........... fit to collapse after I've jogged to the end of the road ), but it helps.

I like switching off to if I can, buying precious me time by sinking into a hot bubbly bath with candles, wine and a trashy novel- no-one disturbs me there . I find that when it's work driving me crackers I'm more productive and efficient after some me time, even if it feels selfish or indulgent getting away from the job in hand.

Oh, and meeting up with friends is always a great idea, so what are you doing on Sept 16th. Come and join some lovely Omleteers (and me ) at Leeds Castle, bring the family and then you've got something to look forward to when the stress ges too much

Oh, and I swear by the wine and chocolate method of destressing too

[Couperman]

I find fish gazing very relaxing. We have several aquariums and they are definately very therapeutic! I have to admit I have been neglecting them a bit lately, mainly due to chicken obsession!

 

I am in the long drawn out process of setting up my new 6ft reef tank which will be truely awesome once it is running. The fish room is almost ready now so I am going to order all the kit shortly (a couple of grands worth!!)

 

I have changed tack from my original plan and now intend to stock it with home made living rock and farmed corals rather than wild collected ones.

 

Tank bred fish are still pretty scarce but I will see what I can find.

 

Kev.

[Cate in NZ]

The fish room is almost ready now so I am going to order all the kit shortly (a couple of grands worth!!)

 

 

 

 

 

Kev.

 

A fish room

What a waste................... you could devote that space to creating a shoe room

Far more therapeutic IMHO

(Especially if you added a comfy sofa, candles and a fridge full of wine )

[Egluntyne]

Go for a 5 mile walk with a couple of zany friends and laugh for a couple of hours.

[beach chick]

we used to have tropical fish years ago, but tbh I found it a bit anoraky?! (sorry to all who have them!) and also I dont like having to catch them and clean out the whole thing, and then they bite each other & die!

tonight I am finding 97 glasses of red wine quite useful, but having destressed OH who has gone to bed in lovely clean sheets, me having run his bath and listened to his work woes (and the fact that he cut his hand really badly this week) I think I am more stressed than ever!!

will go and investigate hypnosis I think...

[Couperman]

Fishkeeping has come on a lot recently technology wise and is easier than ever now. I still manage to kill a few now and again though

 

Once I set up the big marine reef tank i will have to get shot of the other two because I won't have time to keep them all running right!

 

Plus i still need to find time to devote to my collection of thimbles!

 

And dried leaves don't just catalogue themselves you know!

 

And then theres my vintage spark plug collection, champion.

 

Anorak indeed!

 

Kev.

[beach chick]

couperman, could you install and manage a reef fish aquarium (minus all death and life stuff obvously) for me?!

[Couperman]

I have seriously considered doing it as an offshoot of my business. It would depend on how well my new tank goes I guess as I could use it as an example. I have put as much effort into it's design as goes into the chemical plants I normally work on!

 

Hopefully it will be a success and semi automatic removing a lot of the things that can go wrong. Not sure how much demand there would be especially around my neck of the woods.

 

I think only the seriously wealthy would hire a firm to do it generally so I need to make it within reach of the not so seriously wealthy which I think may be a challenge!

 

Kev.

[chocchick]

I get really stressed It's 4.40 and I'm awake worrying so sympathies....

When I've read about it a healthy diet/exercise is supposed to have a big effect although I'm useless at this.

Could you help at the stables, or share a horse to get in more riding?

I like yoga and massages but sadly can't afford that or the riding.

 

Could OH help more, or is there any way of separating work and home more? You just sound like you need to alllow yourself some "me" time. I'm not sure how that works if you have kids though.

[theherd123]

When I've read about it a healthy diet/exercise is supposed to have a big effect although I'm useless at this.

 

I know what you mean!

 

When things are going well i can do the healthy diet thing but when im stressed its the first thing that goes as i cant do planning healthy meals as it takes time i havent got so i usually end up eating pizza

 

I find that time management is the key to coping with my stress - im a person who likes to write things down and create lists of 'things to do' - that way i can see what is expected, get my priorities straight and than get on with things

 

Long baths, massages, wine and chocolate all help too though

[beach chick]

healthy eating is the first thing out of the window for me too...

taking the day off work today, going to London with the kids (Imperial War Museum & Carmen Jones at the RFH, strange mix!!!) and then tomorrow I am going to tidy my office and make a brand new to do list - that should make me feel better!!

[Lesley]

Have a great day! I loved the Imperial War Museum - esp. the 1940's house.

 

A good tidy up always helps I think - you'll feel much more in control once you have that list written.

[Ladylucan]

I would love to be able to unwind with a lovely glass of red wine, but i dont drink!!!, after overdosing my self on sangria a couple of years ago, flooding the bathroom and changing the colour of the carpet, i havent drunk since,

The only thing i have now is Pepsi Max,,.... Plus i am on so many tablets i am a bit worried to drink...

 

I seriously considered it last nite, the theory being that i have a glass wine then go to bed, cant hurt me then, plus i will sleep alot better. . didnt do though, ended up drinking a cup of tea..

[TheGirlsMum]

When I feel like I've got far too many things to fit into a day I write a todo list and I get great satisfaction in crossing them off when their completed. I also know that there is more on the list than I can possibly complete in one day but you have the evidence of what you have accomplished.

 

To chill like you I try and escape to ride but this is the most often given up thing. However, I enjoy it all the more when I do manage to go out.

[chocchick]

I've got an image now of lots of poor little ponies dealing with stressed out women

They must be little saints

[Sheilaz]

..... ended up drinking a cup of tea..

 

A good plan there, Tracey.

 

Beachchick, today's post sounds a great idea, hope you have a good day out, then work tomorrow.

 

Re rest of topic; the destressing treats are easy to think of, but it's not really de stressing if the initial workload problems are still there.

 

So, I think Em's list of to dos is perfect, maybe tackle the hardest job 1st, then wow, what a sense of achievement.

Deadlines can be hard..if it's in the distance it's easy to waste the time up to it then panic at the last minute. All that time could be better used by finishing projects early & then relaxing. Easier said than done, but it gives you the control back.

 

Choccy, you sound in a viscious circle of stress too. Make a reasonable list of achievable targets (I know the career thing is a worry). Spend some time on this, but then allow yourself some complete switch off time too.

 

I've made you all a cup of tea.

 

PS...not that I know anything, but the relaxing is more destressing for me when I know I've achieved something first. Off to clear European paper mountain from kitchen table and finish tax returns ...oh, and make some lists! xx

[Couperwife]

I've got a few tips on de-stressing (probably rubbish but hey - means im thinking about you)

 

1. if you are going to write a list, make sure that there is no more than 6 things on it. if you have too many (an open ended list) you keep adding and never see the list coming to the end - very good for adding to stress.

 

2. delegate - im sure that the children/OH is just as capable as you in putting rubbish out, making a drink, ordering pizza.

 

3. list everything that you have done one day for the family and ask the others to add what they have done

 

3. leave brochures out for singles holidays - they might get the idea.

 

4. have a mega strop and go on strike.

 

ok, im getting a bit silly here,

 

I have a Paul McKenna de stress CD, that is really good, I listen to it sometimes before I go to sleep, Kev takes the headphones off me when he comes to bed so I dont strangle myself.

 

anyway, hope the list helps - even with just a smile

[Guest]

I can recognise the stress too! I always have lists and tick off what I have done. It's good at the end of a day, when I usually feel I've achieved nothing, to look back and see how much I've done.

 

I agree with Sheila, an achievement is necessary before relaxation, otherwise I can't relax, I just feel lazy. My favourite relaxation is ironing I can watch an interesting TV programme for an hour and iron at the same time. At the end of the hour I have a huge pile of achieved ironing and I feel relaxed because I have been absorbed by the programme. No guilt!

 

This week all my children are on a Stagecoach workshop week, so the house is empty. My stress will start next week when I struggle to keep up with household chores at the same time as being out with the children. Getting enough sleep helps me to maximise my use of the time available to me.

 

It's good to know it's not just me!

[Christian]

I would love to be able to unwind with a lovely glass of red wine, but i dont drink!!!, after overdosing my self on sangria a couple of years ago,

 

I know what you mean Tracey!

 

I had a particularly bad night New Years Eve 2002. A night in Stuttgart with work. Several friends, Blue label smirnoff, red bull, tequilla and champagne. I haven't had a drink since!

[Sheilaz]

...and I haven't touched any spirits at all, not one, since Tequila on my 21st birthday....can't beat a cup of tea really...

[Guest]

Well, I have never been drunk in my life! But I have just enjoyed 2 large pernods and blackcurrant!

 

Very destressing!