I need to get back into a routine here. Back to the good old days of 4-5 posts a week.
Blogging is like anything; the more frequently you do it, the easier it is to keep coming back (and vice versa.) The longer I’m away, the harder it is to think of anything to say. Mind blowing, right? Revealing some hard truths here today.
Speaking of hard truths, I’ve been working on some gratitude/happiness basics lately on account of feeling a little off. (I blame the whole Europe trip, then coming home and immediately getting into that dumb accident.) I’ve just been having a lot of moments where I feel super… meh… I don’t know how else to explain it. Like I’m missing the pep in my step. Or the skin on my arms, idk?
It could also be the seasons changing and the fact I’m mourning the loss of summer, or just that I hate pumpkin spice lattes. WHO KNOWS? Life is weird.
That said, I’m focusing on the small stuff to keep the meh moments to a bare minimum. (Today is very much a self helpy post, you got that, right? Okay good, let’s jump in!)
1. Turn the shitty feelings into compliments.
When I’m already feeling down, my favorite thing to do is find more fun things to make myself feel worse out. Woo hoo! This is usually the old comparison game (thanks social media!) But I’ve consciously made an effort lately that whenever I hear that snarky voice in my head be like, “Whoa, did you see Comedian Connie? How about Blogger Barb?? Both are doing this now ...” I just stop the thought and instead think of something I’m grateful for or have accomplished that I’m proud of.
No questions asked, just straight up bragging about yourself in your head. Give it a try.
2. Remember when this is what you wanted.
I used to day dream about grocery shopping in the middle of day at Trader Joe’s. (Oddly specific and kinda random, I know.) But this is when I lived in a small town I didn’t love, and to me, Trader Joe’s meant BIG CITY LIVING! And shopping in the middle of the day meant I was my own boss.
I remembered this yesterday as I hurried in to get groceries around 11 a.m. And then I also remembered how young 20-year-old-me absolutely longed to be able to buy what I buy now (pre-sliced fruit, organic whatever I want, and $4.99 fresh flowers every Monday to name a few, nbd.) And suddenly the annoyance of grocery shopping wasn’t so annoying anymore. I was living MY dream! Buying $5 flowers like a BOSS. Dreams come in all shapes and sizes.
Also, have I mentioned lately that I have a washer and dryer right inside my house? Pretty fancy, I know. Now I’m just bragging…. But these are the things I’m talking about. Remembering all of the smaller stuff that seemed so big at one time is a great way to gratitude check yourself.
3. You got that small stuff? Now enjoy it. Relish in it.
For example, whenever I come home from a vacation and just finished a few really great books, I think to myself, I’m going to read more! Or … get up early to have coffee outside while the weather is still nice, or sit on the rooftop after dinner with a glass of wine and read a magazine. Yet, I rarely do these simple things that make me so happy… WHY?
Laziness? Routine? Couch? I don’t know, but I’ve been making an effort to get better at it. Last night I made dinner a little slower, with a glass of wine, and some good music playing, and you know what? It felt damn nice! I suggest the Nancy Meyers’ Kitchen Playlist on Spotify if you’re also thirty, flirty, and thriving. 🙂
4. Go to bed early, get up even earlier, eat the green stuff, drink the coffee, limit the alcohol.
I think this is advice from @cuopofjo that I may have changed just slightly. And it might have been from a reader about how to get over a breakup. But turns out it also works for “how to get over a scooter breakup.”
5. Follow a shit ton of self help accounts on Instagram.
My Instagram is 50% dogs, 50% self help at this point. It’s what makes me the most happy, so why not?
Help from today:
“Emotions are energy. Energy wants to move. When stuck emotions cause stress, it’s the energy asking you to help move it.” -@the_enlighten_core
“Let go of thoughts that do not allow your mind to move forward. You don’t have to believe everything you think.” -@thinkgrowprosper
6. Write down your ideal day. Focus on your ideal day. Go get that ideal day.
I talk about this one a lot, but it’s because I believe in this practice and I also believe it’s a great mood booster. When I look in past notebooks, some of the things I wrote down are so weird and detailed (like what I hoped to someday afford at Trader Joe’s…) while others are a little more vague. Regardless, it’s pretty fun to look back and see things I wished for that have come to fruition.
All that said, my dream journal is calling. Have to go write down some goals. Will brb tomorrow!