Organize- in small doses

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Overhaul
Time Commitment: 30 min to 1 hr


Organizing in small doses.  Notice I did not say "clean."  Sometimes I have an aversion to the action of "cleaning," but calling it "organizing" turns it into a likable, rejuvenating experience.  In the end, my mind actually feels more organized and ready to take on the world! (or another pile of homework...)  Check out this interesting little article to understand what I mean: Home Relaxation: Why it Pays to Organize Your Home


Procedure: Turn on a chill, but invigorating album to listen to (optional, but I maintain that music makes almost all experience better!).  I was listening to Blonde Redhead's album "23."  Always good stuff.  Then, light a scented candle.  The candle seems to make the organizing experience more intimate and nourishing.  My current candle of choice is Pumpkin Spice scented, because I am a fanatic for fall!  After the music and candle are in place, now you can begin the organization!  I specified "small doses" because my house can get pretty messy during the semester and I will get overwhelmed and discouraged if I focus on the whole thing at once.  My focus generally revolves around laundry or dishes, although sometimes it might be about de-cluttering certain areas.  Today, I tackled the laundry.  I separated the clean from the dirty, and threw the dirty into the wash.  I put away the random shoes and art supplies that were originally hiding under the clothing on my floor.  I made my bed.  Then, I folded the 2 loads of clean laundry from last week, placing them in little piles on my bed, and put them away.  It's so nice to see large portions of floor in my bedroom!  Rejuvenation achieved!


Why this is wonderful:  It attends to 4 senses: sight, sound, smell, and movement.  The sound and smell aspects make the experience seem more like fun instead of work.   The sight element is really helpful reinforcement when you finish your small dose of organization; you can see your productivity, which is always helpful for me.  The movement part is the most important, and you may not have even realized it!  Being on your feet and walking from room to room or even closet to dresser gets your blood flowing.  It wakes you up and makes you more alert.  So, as your space becomes conducive to work, your mind does, too!

I Am Thankful For...

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Get Me Through the Day
Time Commitment: ~5 min.


So this idea...is not my own.  Yay! A suggestion!  A friend at work, Michelle, mentioned this technique when we were talking about my blog.  She likes to use it when she is feeling a bit pessimistic.  I tried it, and appreciate the elegant simplicity.  The process even inspired the new chalkboard I have on my blog!  Now, I'm sharing with you.


Procedure:  At times during the day, I find my brain in knots.  It may be frustration, anger, confusion, or just too much work.  During these times in your life, stop, and take a brain break.  Whilst on the brain break, loosen up that tunnel vision and look around you.  What are you thankful for?  Say it aloud: I am thankful for...binder clips (much better than paper clips!).  I am thankful for...pandora.  I am thankful for...the text I just received from my mom.  I am thankful for...post-its.  And so on.  After a few minutes of  what you are thankful for, silliness will save you from your doldrums.  Repeat procedure as many times as you need to over the course of the day.


Why this is wonderful: It attends to 2 senses: sight and sound.  When you are looking around and soaking up your environment, you are helping to bring yourself back to reality.  This in combination with the sound of your voice declaring what you're thankful for, grounds you and invites perspective into the stressful situation.  The stressful situation isn't so bad anymore, is it?


P.S. Let me know if YOU have any favorite selfcare ideas you want me to try!  I might just put it on my blog, and I will give you all the credit if you're ok with that :)

Dancing- shake it offffff

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Overhaul
Time Commitment: 1 evening


I love to dance.  Really.  When I go out dancing, it really is for an overhaul.  I NEEEED it.  My life has been so stressful in unpredictable ways that I schedule a night to go dancing once a week, and I notice a huge difference in my abilities to cope if I skip one of these nights.  When I dance, I stop thinking with my brain and start to connect with my body.  I tend to get lost in my brain and logical thought patterns throughout the week.  It's as if my brain is just floating along and my body is no longer important.  Dancing allows me to let go, to trust and appreciate this mass of bone and muscle that hauls me from work to class to work all the time.
Even my nephew loves to dance <Dec 2010>:  (pay no attention to the creepy laughter in the background...lol)

Procedure: If you are not one to go out dancing, I highly recommend dancing around your house to music of your choice for an extended period of time.  It may not accomplish as much as a night out might, but it will accomplish something, and that counts.  Now I will focus on going out dancing for the night.  Preparation at home is almost as important as the going out part.  I turn on the upbeat tunes, and allow myself plenty of time for my makeup, hair, and clothing.  I am an artist, so I love to experiment, and reinvent my style depending on what mood I'm in.  Although you may not consider yourself an artist, I recommend using awareness in the preparation part.  Makeup, hair, and clothing can be forms of armor.  They can prepare and protect you for the night.  But, keep in mind to do only as much as you can be confident and comfortable with.  Rock your style!! If you are uncomfortable with your look, you are vulnerable.  I don't want you to be super susceptible to stress or criticism when the night is for shaking all of that off! :)  When you meet up with friends at a dancing venue, take your time.  Let the music pull you out of your seat.  Forced dancing is not fun, and adds stress.  I just recommend if you don't normally dance, to get up if you like a song, and try!!  Sometimes I close my eyes when I dance and just let my body follow the beat.  I have to trust my body.  You have to trust your body.  Let gooooooo...  Just try.  And drink plenty of water.
This video should pump you up:

Why this is wonderful: It attends to 2 senses: sound and movement (movement is explained in my "Music" post).  This technique has the potential to disconnect you from your critical thinking mind, which can be such a welcome release after a long week!  I have also found this to be a crucial way of expelling stress from the body, literally shaking it out. I have found that my body stores stress in my shoulders and back.  These areas get tight throughout the week and it is so difficult to relax them.  Dancing gets my muscles moving.  I move my arms, hips, legs, torso; I turn and bend; I let the music move me and I feel exceptionally better afterwards.  Also, on a more physiological side: dancing is a work-out.  This not only allowing you to burn calories easily, but gets your endorphins pumping which results in a happier mood! Whoa!

Loud Music- but be aware of your eardrums

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Pick Me Up
Time Commitment: ~4 min (length of 1 song, or more if you choose)


Loud music... Where to start?  Well, it is an old favorite that I utilize almost everyday.  At home, I use this as much-needed break from studying.  At work or during class, I am able to pop in my headphones during a lunch or bathroom break and release some tension.  It really does "pick me up."  Loud, enveloping music transports me out of the stressful situation I am in, offers me support and delight, then allows me to keep those qualities in order to better deal with the stressful situation when the song ends.


Procedure: Pick a song with an upbeat feel, preferably one with a strong beat and lyrics you can follow along to. Upbeat is crucial because music can have a profound effect on your mood.  Depressing songs (which definitely have their own time and place) will bring you down and make you more susceptible to stress.  I recommend making a playlist ahead of time with tried-and-true feel-good tunes on it (*notice my "Music of the Moment" list along the left sidebar). If you are at home (and alone if you feel more comfortable), stand up and allow yourself to move to the song.  Allow yourself to sing as well.  You may not feel like moving, you may not feel like singing, but TRY!  Engaging your body really helps to expel stress that gets stored in your muscles and bogs you down!


If you are at work or school, the procedure is much more internal (unless the environment is accepting of singing and dancing).  Focus on the beat of the song, notice the different instruments/sounds, and sing along in your head.  Maintain awareness; this is not the same as listening to the radio on your way to work, when you make lists and plans in your head while listening.  Keep your attention on the song and thoughts related to it.  What does it remind you of?  What feelings from the song can you hold onto after the song has finished?
Polite Dance Song by The Bird and the Bee is a song on my list, check it out and you will see that it is relatively gentle, but still upbeat and fun:

Why this is wonderful: It attends to 2 senses: sound and movement.  Ok, "movement" is not a traditional sense.  But, I think of it as a bodily sense.  Most senses deal primarily with your head or hands, but what about the body as a whole?  Movement is important and nourishes the body, so I am including it :)  The song choice itself brings with it happy thoughts and memories that can flip your mood and arm you against stressful events.