With the amount of stress in the air today, it’s really hard to find that comfort zone where everything feels legitimately okay. Nobody is expected to release themselves of every possible worry. However, it is important to let loose once in a while and enjoy the perks of life.
I find that sometimes when I am feeling down and something really good comes up, I only partially enjoy it because I hold onto my older mood. I have recently learned that this is essentially useless. You’re enjoying something less than you would otherwise, and you’re not getting anything out of it. Instead, you should temporarily let go of the problem that you can’t immediately solve and let yourself enjoy everything else that life has to offer. Go back to your problem later with a different mindset, and it could turn out to be a lot easier to deal with than you thought!
The other night some friends and I were having some wine before meeting up with other people. It was the first time that I had been alone with the girls in a while and I was loving it. I was sitting like a pretzel, had my hair in a side pony tail, and laughing so much that my face hurt. I wasn’t concerned about things that weren’t happening at that moment: like my laundry that had to be done or the thank-you cards that I had to write. Instead, I picked up the Rock Band guitar and sang my favorite song without anything plugged in. When D asked what I was doing, I replied, “I’m being a rockstar.”
The more responsibilities that you get, the harder it becomes to have these feelings. That’s why it’s essential to embrace these moments and surround yourself with positivity in such a stressful world.
One way to be productive without driving yourself insane is by setting limits for yourself and then passing them. Tell yourself that you will get everything done by a certain schedule. Keep yourself driven for a reasonable amount of time. If you are truly focused, you will be as productive as you want to be. Once you’re done, do something a little extra. It will take some more time, but it will allow you to enjoy your relaxation time MUCH more. Always give yourself a few minutes of relaxation before bed. Falling asleep tense only results in an interrupted sleep and a dreadful morning.
Another way that I try to keep positive is by ranking situations. If I feel overwhelmed by a list of fifteen things to do, I try to get the most pertinent tasks done first. This way, the list gets shorter along with the immediacy of my tasks.
I understand that sometimes we need those nights where we watch the saddest movie possible with the fattiest ice cream possible. These can be beneficial. The most important part is to make sure that when you want to enjoy something, you really let yourself enjoy it: don’t let life pass you by.
Do you have any other tips for letting loose and taking advantage of everything that we have? Help us out!
