So… I was down at Emily’s (You know, my awesome friend Emily? We did this project and this project.)
Well Emily has this knack for asking questions that really make me think. Last time I was there, she asked what were some of my “routines.” Things that I generally do in my day to make things go smoother and things that generally contribute to a better and happier frame of mind! 🙂
She also sent me an article to read at about the same time… 15 Tips for the Highly Sensitive Parent. I read it and several things struck me.
Go read it!!!!! 15 Tips for the Highly Sensitive Parent.
You see… I’m a pretty extreme introvert. (Interestingly the writer is an extrovert, but I still found many useful things to implement) I need a bit of quiet time. Overload things too much and…. Oof! It’s rough on me.
If Emma’s had a bad day and has been excessively loud and angry…
The trash is full of stinky diapers and banana peels and the invasion of the fruit flies has hit in full force…
I just find myself getting upset at… Well… Pretty much anything. And I don’t want to be that wife and mom for Emma or when Handsome Man gets home from work.
So here are a few simple things that keep me in a better frame of mind throughout the day. Some of these things are pretty no-brainer, and some won’t work for everyone, but it sure helps me! (The following in no particular order! 🙂 )
1. Make a pitcher of flavored water.
It’s summertime, so with it comes all the delicious additions I don’t normally have or get. Also, I find that I’m better about drinking water when I have a delicious pitcher of goodness in the fridge.
So far, my favorite concoctions have been:
*Sliced strawberries, fresh basil, a bit of Truvia, and a few lemon stevia drops.
*A squeezed lemon, some fresh ginger root that I squeeze through the garlic press, a bit of Truvia, and a few lemon stevia drops.
*2 squeezed limes, fresh mint, a bit of Truvia, and a few peppermint stevia drops.
*Sliced cucumbers and raspberries
And today I sliced a white peach and a handful of bing cherries… We’ll see how that one tastes shortly!! 🙂
I’ve started THM (Trim Healthy Mama) the first diet I’ve actually liked. I mean really? A diet in which you are never hungry, eat most things you like, AND you loose weight? I’ll have it!!! Anyway… By using Truvia and Stevia in the water, I can drink lots of it all day long and it doesn’t spike my blood sugar at all! But you could easily add just a wee bit of sugar to give it that extra sweetness! Mmmmmm! I love that such a small thing like taking 5 minutes to makes lightly flavored water totally makes my day a little brighter! 🙂
2. Listen to an Encouraging Podcast.
My friend, Grace came for a visit (See? I have so many inspiring friends!) and she was telling me about how much she enjoys podcasts. Revive Our Hearts podcast in particular. So right away I downloaded the Podcasts app on my iPhone and added Revive Our Hearts. Every day it automatically downloads the daily podcast. They are only 20-30 minutes long and sooooooo good! Today I put Emma down for her morning nap, got it playing on my phone and stuck it in my pocket. I listened to it as I put dishes in the dishwasher, threw a load of laundry in the washer, and swept the floor. It’s so good and those days when I find it hard to get into the Word, I feel like I’m still getting some encouragement! Last week, they had several days on contentment… I love the real life application and how it ministers to my stage of life!
3. Light a candle.
I pretty much light a candle every single day. If you don’t do candles, do something! Even if dishes aren’t done and toys are strewn everywhere, if it at least smells good, my frame of mind stays so much better!
4. Go outside for a bit.
I’ve been trying to hang out on the porch for a bit everyday. Handsome Man built a porch gate, so it’s nice to take Emma out there to play and not be constantly getting up to carry her back up the stairs she has descended in order to stuff her mouth full of potting soil! Ha! I love my outside time most days.
A total favorite!!
5. Always have snacks.
Preferably sweets! haha! As I mentioned before, I am doing THM, so a private Twix bar stash is out. But I can have lots of other sweets. Skinny Chocolate made with truvia… Berry Whips made with stevia… Even Lemon Cheesecake! And if I don’t have anything on hand? Life is sad! lol! Making time to make sure I have tasty sweets is vital! lol!
Other than those few routines, every day is different! Some days I feel like I have it all together and some days I totally don’t. But I do find that if I do a few simple things, my frame of mind stays so much happier! 🙂
