So, I got a little overwhelmed, life got a little nuts, and I forgot Wed was homework day.

When you get overwhelmed, how do you regroup?

What is usually the first thing to go when you get stressed?

For me, its my kitchen, dishes pile up, the fridge is full of old food, I don't cook fast enough....

Catherine

When you get overwhelmed, how do you regroup?

It depends: sometimes I binge, sometimes I exercise, read the posts on this webpage and a couple of other online groups I belong too, just vegetate.

What is usually the first thing to go when you get stressed?

The kitchen

quote:

Originally posted by cate:
What is usually the first thing to go when you get stressed?

Exercise, snacks, water...

And I get terrible cravings for fast food... my stress medication of choice. Gave in twice this week and I don't even have a very good excuse... except for the missing snacks makes me REALLY hungry.

Am looking forward to a "normal" day tomorrow - just being a stay at home mom.... Oh, and carting about 12 brass instruments into the shop for dumb picky repairs...

I am sure that people who work or live with me, I drive nuts by dealing with stress the way I do. But I walk away for an hour. I will do something completely mindless and in the 60 minute just breathe relax. AFter that time, I then attack the problems on MY priority list, not others. Having a clean working enviroment is vital to my getting things done, so I clean the kitchen, organizes the diningroom, etc. Then on to another job. But I have to take that 60 minutes in order to get myself calmed down and ready to face the battle. OH, and I will pick my battles very carefully.

When things get a little crazy I tend to take a deep breath and wite everything down in a list. I then prioratize them and try and get through them. I always make little funny tasks to break up the work. For example Hug the cat, walk around the block and enjoy a nice cup aof tea.

I also warn them to stay far away from me!!

When I feel really stressed and upset, I have a tendancy to vegetate. I don't make the bed and feel no hurry to clean up the kitchen. What I do to combat this is try to remember what my kids are thinking of me and how I am handling my situation. I pray and ask God for help and pick myself up and get busy. I always tell my kids that we will all always experience stressful times and if we choose to fall apart, then nothing good can be accomplished.

When I get overwhelmed, I make three "to do" lists: A, B, and C.
A means, must get done (by today, by tomorrow: be specific) or disaster will occur.
B means, must attend to within the week.
C means back burner.

In order to regroup I love doing laundry or cooking, especially something like soup. You can tell when I've been stressed because the rest of the housework has gone to pot, but I have tons of clean clothes and there is an aroma of chicken celery and garlic wafting through!

I tend to look at my to do list for the day or continue adding on it. Then seeing what kind of mood I am I will do some of the little things.

I have to say when I workout on a frequent basis my stress level is much lower. Also, I do have Yoga (which is a BIG reward for myself) once a week.

When I get overwhelmed I generally look at my calendar and try to make room for some alone time for myself, even if it's just a short period to put my feet up and lose myself in a magazine.

I also fight the urge to stress eat which is usually still a battle for me.

Writing about the stressor and my feelings help me alot.

When I have a really crazy day, and get overwhelmed I usually have to try and lock myself away from the world for at least an afternoon if not an entire day. I avoid everything from email to phone calls. Then I make a list of anything I have to "catch up on" and go from there.

Laurie

I have been busy this week. Today I am not- I love it.
When I get overwhelmed I get in "survival mode"-I am likely to forget exercise and I am less careful about getting in fruits and veggies-

I regroup with a day at home to cook, do luandry, rest, maybe food shop, make calls-just catch up. I am a very efficent, organized person and get frustrated when things skid out.