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Calming Down | Pad Patter 4/7

jk703

jk703

CEO of Anything and Everything, Everywhere
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Hi Everyone!

Soooo.... this week is a terrible, horrible, no good kinda week at WORK! (Home is way better, a little more balanced between good and ugh). Yesterday, was the absolute worst. Ugh. Ugh again!

To make it simple, I'm overloaded and I warned my boss yesterday that things were getting out of hand. And nothing is happening or will happen, and certain things I do are on hold and I can't do my job correctly. I work M-TH, and I'm off from April 14-25. My hands are tied and I'm now in the "Oh, Well" camp. I'm doing the best that I can, but I know it will be even worse soon.... I tried to give a warning.

During my day yesterday, I had to take steps back to calm myself. I went into the ladies room (we are super small, and it's a single and only for ladies), read People magazine for a few minutes. I futzed around on the internet or FB for silly things to give myself something other than work to focus on. I did the deep breathing, eyes closed for a minute, and drinking water. They only worked so so.

So, my question to you is... how do you calm down, destress and pick yourself up and turn around QUICKLY?

I can't go off for a walk. I can't leave the building. I'm kinda stuck in my options, but thought maybe someone else has a good idea!

The bright side is.... today is my Friday. Thank goodness!
AND next week is only 3 days!!!

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I heard something years ago about doing two physical things at once that is calming. So what I do is tap each finger against my thumb quickly and repeat over and over (both hands) and at the same time I breath in to the count of 6 sec, hold for 6 and breath out for 6. I find it helps.
 
bcgal00 said:
I heard something years ago about doing two physical things at once that is calming. So what I do is tap each finger against my thumb quickly and repeat over and over (both hands) and at the same time I breath in to the count of 6 sec, hold for 6 and breath out for 6. I find it helps.
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Ok! That is totally different and I will try that! Thank you!

Meanwhile... my coworkers...
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I was smoking when I worked... I would always go out for a smoke when it got crazed.. I am glad you went away into the bathroom to take some breaths and to look at the magazine and your phone too as a distraction to have you calm a bit.. I wish I had an easy answer for you. I hated that feeling. (I quit working in 8/31/12, and quit smoking 7/14/2014) .. hang in there.. the deep breaths and counting to 10 sometimes worked for me as well as thinking some happy thoughts.. just don't let it work you up..ypu are one person and can only do what you can. Hugs and glad you can say you only have 3 days next week.. that is what I would focus on and let it be someone else's problem while you are away. They may realize all the stuff you really do when you are away :) Hugs
 
cfile said:
I was smoking when I worked... I would always go out for a smoke when it got crazed.. I am glad you went away into the bathroom to take some breaths and to look at the magazine and your phone too as a distraction to have you calm a bit.. I wish I had an easy answer for you. I hated that feeling. (I quit working in 8/31/12, and quit smoking 7/14/2014) .. hang in there.. the deep breaths and counting to 10 sometimes worked for me as well as thinking some happy thoughts.. just don't let it work you up..ypu are one person and can only do what you can. Hugs and glad you can say you only have 3 days next week.. that is what I would focus on and let it be someone else's problem while you are away. They may realize all the stuff you really do when you are away :) Hugs
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Thank you! I haven't brought my phone in the bathroom... but I will try that now. Search up silly dog or cat video clips, lol!
 
I use a Japanese technique of squeezing my thumb and pressing into the center of my hand to relieve stress and relax. I usually only have to do my thumb and press into the center of my hand along with taking deep breaths to relax. HTH

 
keepscrappin said:
I use a Japanese technique of squeezing my thumb and pressing into the center of my hand to relieve stress and relax. I usually only have to do my thumb and press into the center of my hand along with taking deep breaths to relax. HTH

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That's different too. I will watch the vid after work! These cool things always get me reading and down small rabbit holes, lol!
 
I've done the "tapping" that Rae talked about. There was a big movement on that a few years ago - and probably is still popular. I've got to start doing that again. I just looked it up and it's called Emotional Freedom Technique - EFT. Some guy used to have workshops on TV - I'm reading that it's a form of Chinese Acupuncture so it would probably be something like what Kayla talked about, too.

Do some research on it - see if that might help you. I definitely need to start doing it again.
 
Sorry you are having such a time! Gaining perspective is a real help. When things are overwhelming, it helps to take a breath, mentally step back and realize that none of these things are life threatening. Prayer is always my go to- asking for a reset on perspective. "In the end" none of this will really matter. Focus on what does and realize that these things at work are not "it". May it ease for you soon.
 
Not a quick fix, but I meditate regularly (should be daily, but hey, I'm human). This helps me keep calm in a much better way + when stressed, a quick breathing exercise works better, just cuz my brain & body are used to it.

I use an app called Calm, it's a bit expensive, but it's the best money I spent. I do a 10 minute daily meditation + they have sleep stories & soundscapes that I use to relax to go to sleep. That app saved my life!
 
Scripture helps me. This is one of my favorites, because it directs my thoughts away from what is troubling me.

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Philippians 4:6-9
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Even if you have different/no beliefs, there's just some good common sense in those scriptures. Lots of times, the worrying I'm engaged in doesn't have roots in truth. I will search for what things are true in my situation and think about them. It begins to give me a different perspective, even if it's a tiny one. As I begin to retrain my thoughts, I am able to control ME and stop worrying about controlling situations or other people.

It's so hard to experience your frustration because it sounds like you aren't being HEARD. I would definitely write that down for later conversation with your supervisor/boss.
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I am really enjoying reading these. I'm no help because I'm feeling pretty much like you are, Jenn. I thought the Covid years of teach were bad, but this one has been worse in lots of different ways and so stressful. I am not one that gets stressed out easily at all, but this year is getting to me. I guess fortunately I have summer vacation to look forward to, but man, getting there is rough.
 
tanteva said:
Not a quick fix, but I meditate regularly (should be daily, but hey, I'm human). This helps me keep calm in a much better way + when stressed, a quick breathing exercise works better, just cuz my brain & body are used to it.

I use an app called Calm, it's a bit expensive, but it's the best money I spent. I do a 10 minute daily meditation + they have sleep stories & soundscapes that I use to relax to go to sleep. That app saved my life!
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I have the Calm app, too! I use it frequently to go back to sleep when I wake up halfway through the night. Sleep stories are great!
 
As a yoga and MELT instructor, I have a lot of looooooong answers on how to calm down as well, but here are my go-to quick ones.

This is a quick one that takes about one minute, and can be very powerful. Clap your hands together, keep them together, and rub the palms back and forth, generating heat for about 10-15 seconds. Do a slow, full, inhale as you near the end of the 15 seconds. As you exhale, place your warmed hands around the back of your neck, up by the base of your skull. We get really tense there. Stay there for about a breath. Repeat, this time, placing the hands on your heart. Sometimes, when I teach this in class, I add an affirmation on the exhale / touch.

Deep breaths into the lower regions of your lungs. When we're stressed out, we often breathe quickly and shallowly, which adds to the stress. The place where oxygen gets into your blood the most effectively is your lower lungs. Breathe in for a slow count of 4, pause at the fullness of your inhale very slightly, exhale for a count of 6, and pause very slightly until your body's first sense of wanting to inhale again. Notice the circle around the torso a little below where the bra line typically sits. Feel that circle expand on inhale, as your ribs move outwards, creating the space for your breath. Notice how all of the edges of the circle shrink back down to normal on exhale. Just a few of these breaths can work wonders. It's the yoga equivalent of counting to ten, lololol.
 
Same as @gonewiththewind - Praying and scripture.

But also, I tend to do best if I make a list and just focus on one thing at a time. There always seems to be so much to do. I know in certain situations you can't do that (like when you have a gazillion kids interrupting you when you are trying to focus on your one thing!). I mentally try to only think about one thing...it's so hard for women!
 
Scrapping with Liz said:
Same as @gonewiththewind - Praying and scripture.

But also, I tend to do best if I make a list and just focus on one thing at a time. There always seems to be so much to do. I know in certain situations you can't do that (like when you have a gazillion kids interrupting you when you are trying to focus on your one thing!). I mentally try to only think about one thing...it's so hard for women!
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I used to be able to multi-task, but I can't do it anymore. I have to focus on one thing at a time or I will surely mess something up. Even though my children are older, they have an uncanny ability to know when I'm deep in thought/work and need to talk about something. LOL It is hard for women as we are trying to wear so many hats.
 
Thank you so much ladies! I will try these techniques when the stress hits! I've got 3 days this week, and I'm choosing to be hopeful it will be a better one for sure!
 
Ugh! I hate it when all the things come at me at once at work and I have to wait on someone else to finish their task before I can do mine. When I get overwhelmed with too many overlapping things at once, I am definitely a list maker. It helps me visually see everything I need to do, so I know where to start. Also it gives me great joy to be able to cross anything off a list. Then I often will put my headphones on a listen to loud music. I don't know why, but they helps me focus sometimes and try to quiet my overthinking brain. I sure hope your last three days this week go better and that you can just check out worry free for vacation. :agree
 
I'm sorry things are so rough at work right now! Sometimes I put on a fast, happy song and dance for the 3 or 4 minutes it lasts. The combination of physical activity and cheerful music help. If you have a single bathroom at work, you might be able to get away with it if. It still works for me when I have to tone down the dancing so that no one notices me.
 
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