I’m in the waiting room of a tire shop, because one of my tires had a nail and was leaking air. I have my laptop, but these are not ideal circumstances for revising a novel.
Instead, I’m going through the backlog of ideas, reminders, and random thoughts on my Notes App. I had over 450 notes! Most of the notes are easy deletes (do I need an old grocery shopping list?), but a Note from July 30, 2020 struck me as helpful enough to warrant a blog post. These are the things that helped me stay calm during the dark days of Summer 2020. Worth remembering for future use!
I could have actually used these reminders earlier this year, when my dad was in the ICU after brain surgery and everything about his health seemed impossibly uncertain. But hey, better late than never. I’m burnt out and could use some calm as the new school year revs up.
Courtney’s July 2020 List Of Ideas For Staying Calm
- The Calm power: I still take a half teaspoon of this mixed with a few tablespoons of hot water every night before bed.
- The Calm app: I stopped using this but I should strongly consider renewing my subscription when life gets stressful.
- Tibetan singing bowls: oh, yes. Now I want to go home and use mine.
- Deep breaths
- Hand lotion with a nice scent
- Lavender
- ASMR
- Knitting
- Staying off caffeine: Truth. And my caffeine intake has been off the charts lately. I am making a point to not drink any caffeine after 2 p.m. Perhaps I can lower that time, by fifteen minute increments.
- Limiting refined sugar: I’ve been off refined sugar the past couple of weeks and definitely notice a difference.
- Tea, especially the ritual of making a cup.
- Stretching
- Color and doodle: I doodled last night and it was enormously calming.
- Disconnect from social media: Can I get an Amen?
- Snuggle
- Watch fish
- Garden
- Nature and fresh air
- Watch the clouds
- Shower
- Walk
- Exercise
- Journal
- Squeeze ball
- Watch those toys with the colored oil
- Read
- Paint
- Blow bubbles
- Do a puzzle
- Affirmations
- Collage
- Move in fun ways: When my dad was in the ICU, I’d do little dances and karate chops in the bathroom, and this actually helped enormously.
I’m glad I reminded myself of these strategies, but shit, now I need to break up with caffeine. It’s like July 2020 Courtney is shouting at 2023 Courtney, CAFFEINE MAKES YOU BAT SHIT CRAZY! And as a forty-four year old woman with tender hormones, do I really need to imbibe a substance that increases my stress?
I think not.