Some days are just… a lot. You know? Ever since the world went sideways with Covid, it feels like everything is dialed up to eleven. Being stuck inside, trying to be a teacher, a chef, a mom, a partner, all at the same time... it's just plain exhausting, and sometimes it feels pretty daunting. And I know it’s not just for parents. My friend who lives alone feels it, too. Juggling a job from her tiny apartment, taking care of her mom from a distance… It's like we're all just trying to keep our heads above water. I keep telling myself to be more patient, with the kids, with my husband, with everyone. But honestly, the hardest person to be patient with is myself.
So, the other day, I was half-listening to my son's Zoom class, and they started talking about emotions. The topic was literally "How to deal with our emotions," focusing on big feelings like anxiety and anger. And then this list popped up on the screen: “10 ways to calm down.” I was like, wait a minute... this isn't just for kids. This is for me. I thought it was so simple and perfect that I sent it to my mom-group chat. I'm putting it here mostly for myself, so I can actually try to remember and maybe even memorize them for when things get... you know... hectic.
Here's the list they showed:
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BREATHE IN AND OUT SLOWLY 10 TIMES
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SQUEEZE A STRESS BALL
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TAKE A BREAK FROM WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND GRAB A DRINK OF WATER
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TALK TO A GROWN UP (YES YOU, ADULT! CALL A FRIEND, YOUR MOM, YOUR HUSBAND, RELATIVE....ETC)
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HUG SOMEONE
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DRAW A PICTURE ABOUT IT
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WRITE ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS
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DO SOME STRETCHES OR PRACTICE SOME YOGA
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THINK OF SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY, OR A HAPPY MEMORY
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READ A MAGAZINE/BOOK OR DO SOME PUZZLES/SUDOKU
It's so easy to beat yourself up when you snap at the kids or just feel like you're failing. I do it all the time. That idea of just stepping away for a minute, hitting a reset button... It sounds so simple, but it feels impossible sometimes. I guess it's all about forgiveness, isn't it? Forgiving someone else feels hard enough, but forgiving yourself? That's a whole other level. Something I'm still working on, for sure.
