Last year when I was journaling guided by Leonie Dawson’s fabulously quirky life and business planner (a tool I use to complete each year and launch the new year), I stopped when I came to an exercise titled “The List of Things to Do When Everything Sucks.” At first I skipped over it, then being a ‘completionist’ I felt I had to put something down.
I dutifully filled out the page as any good list-making, rule following, completionist would. Although I never really expected to refer to it. Why? Not because I don’t have days when things suck. I do. More because I prefer to wallow in my own pity party when that happens.
Let’s face it, doesn’t it sometimes feel good to stay there for just a bit?
Key phrase – just a bit.
I found this list actually helped with what I call “recovery time.” Yes, I can be pissed, sad, depressed, angry, mopey, or disappointed.
I can allow myself to FEEL those feelings.
But just for a bit.
Then I can make the choice to release and move on (cue the chorus of “Let it Go” from Frozen).
I don’t need to bury or ignore the feelings. It’s important to feel them. But I can’t let them consume me. There’s always something to be grateful for, some glimmer of hope, a new day or fresh start – or any cliche you can muster.
The quicker my recovery time, the closer I am to feeling good.
Over this past weekend, I needed the list….so I revisited it…
- Take a long soak in the tub
- Have a text conversation with two of my BFFs
- Spend time in nature (photo of beach time above :))
- Diffuse and apply uplifting essential oils
- Schedule a workout with my exercise buddy and/or get myself to yoga
- Take a nap
- Unplug. Completely
- Put on my Happy Tunes playlist and dance
This weekend I did almost all of those (except dance). I also watched a marathon of The Bachelorette with a big bowl of popcorn. Yep, it happens.
Sometimes it what you have to do. And sometimes things may still be sad or hard after you’ve exhausted your list.
And sometimes they will get better. 