Comments on: Monday Monthly Mission # 14

By: Sayward

Sayward — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:43:41 +0000

There are some really great suggestions in here! I love the idea of reading in the bath *before* starting the day! And early morning cuddles of course. =)

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 02:40:04 +0000

My partner and I dedicate the first 20 minutes of the day to a cuddle. It’s really not a big thing to do, but it puts a great perspective on the rest of the day and maintains the closeness, without being sexual or related the never ending to do list. I find as such close friends, we can too easily get into the habit of just doing everything together without really being together… That doesn’t make a lot of sense, but sometimes it is nice to stop and smell the roses, or stop and cuddle.

By: Shaina

Shaina — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 23:20:52 +0000

Thanks for the mission mama! I certainly am in need of this, and am loving everyone’s enthusiasm. I’m working 2 jobs, and trying to still audition for musical theatre gigs. Even though I don’t work weekends, I feel stressed trying to squeeze in all the people I have neglected all week (which is just silly)! So I am vowing to destress this month by:
-taking my time during meals. my food doesn’t stand a chance at mealtimes, so I vow to slow down a bit. savor the flavas!
-scheduling some ME time, whatever that is. be it yoga, or a long walk in this gorgeous NY fall weather. I am going to take some of my weekend time and make it mine!

phew!

Let’s do this! <3

By: Tenise Rae

Tenise Rae — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:55:22 +0000

@windycityvegan~ I skate for SisQ Rollerz in southern Oregon. Wow! Looks like Windy City Rollers has their shit together! We’re essentially starting over due to some recent drama….we’ll have a kick ass website up here soon. :D
I always wonder how I’m gonna handle not gettin’ my skate time in once we get pregnant again. I do know that I must be involved somehow some way. Love me some derby, big time!!

By: Melissa F.

Melissa F. — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:56:28 +0000

I work 2 jobs (in a busy emergency room as a tech and on an ambulance)I went as far as changing one position from part time to perdiem.(best thing i ever did) I also make sure I have time to clean my itty bitty studio…a decluttered house makes my mind feel less cluttered. Than it’s a matter of doing something each day that makes me feel semi productive and fulfilled… Awesome mission! =) Everyone feels like this sometimes, it’s good to know you aren’t alone.

By: Tara

Tara — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:57:32 +0000

Yes! Yes! Yes! I am so excited for this MMM! Much needed, indeed.

Lately I have been reading every morning in the bath for 30 minutes before work and it is amazing! I work a stressful job in the medical field and allowing myself that little bit of peaceful time before the day comes rushing in has helped me immensely.

I would like to try to introduce a nightly walk with the husband and pup while the weather is still amenable. Walking has always helped calm my mind and I think it would be a great way to slow down after a long day.

“And we must grant ourselves the license to do so, without guilt.” I think this is a really important point that Sayward touched on. It can be incredibly difficult to allow yourself time and space simply for you. I have to constantly remind myself (while doing yoga, meditation, or even a nice, long bath) that I am doing something to grow, learn, change, reconnect that in turn will help my relationships, ability to manage stress, etc…

By: Sayward

Sayward — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:03:03 +0000

Hey guys, so glad you’re into this. It’s so important! For those that mentioned what you’re already doing – which is super awesome – are you going to also add something else? For example I already take 2 long walks each day, which is very calming and grounding for me. But I still carry stress and so to move towards balance, I’m adding yoga (and a few other things I think . . . ) It’s a constant process of tweaking and reworking and modifying, to find a place of harmony. At least it is for me! (Mrs. Type-A )

So, are you guys going to change anything or are you happy with where you are? If you’ve already found that sweet spot, of course, than nothing needs to change. And if so then man, I’m envious! Good for you guys! =D

@ MathTutor – I rally relate to what you said and the lifestyle you’re living right now (reminds me of when I was at University doing my research, etc). In my experience, the only way is to just *make* the first small step happen – for example in college for me it was a nightly bath with a good book (and a glass of wine, or 2, haha) – and then observing the consequences. And by that I mean, make the space for your ‘you time’, and then notice that . . . the world does not come crashing down . . . you do not fall hopelessly behind . . . you do not end up having to go to bed later . . . or work harder later . . . or any other huge stress inducer. Pay attention to the fact that not a lot really changes – except that now you get a little relief! – that your schedule will bend to accomodate this new addition, without compromising elsewhere. And I bet you it will! But you just gotta try it.

@ Minna – I do the yoga that is free at my co-op, ha! Sort of always different, which I like. Last night was my first time in ages, and I feel AMAZING. And Damian and Waits survived my absence, which was a big deal and a huge step. =)

@ Rebecca – Yay! It was just so timely a question, I had to use it! And your meditative process is exactly what I do, because I also can’t ever *actually* clear my mind. But I started doing that and it works great for me!

—

Very excited for this one, guys! Can’t wait to hear how it goes for everyone!

By: windycityvegan

windycityvegan — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:14:11 +0000

I absolutely accept! Just a couple of weeks ago I moved my study time from early morning (4:30 am-ugh) to mid-evening. Now that I’ve settled into my new routine, I can sleep in until 5:30 and still have time for an early morning yoga session before heading off to work.

@Tenise Rae – Which league do you skate for? I was *this close* to trying out for the Windy City Rollers, then I got pregnant.

By: erosan

erosan — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:33:01 +0000

@Rebecca, @Allison: Speaking of “blocking things out” to meditate… I do the oposite when trying to go to sleep. I try to think of everything at once so my thoughts ‘sound’ like the hum of indistinct chatter in the restaurant area of a mall where there is a lot of noise, but you cant really make sense of anything anyone is saying. And then my mind goes numb… and I fall asleep. Is this weird? am I the only one for whom this works?

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 06:59:14 +0000

First, can I say how it completely made my day to see my comment highlighted in this MMM? (The original highlight of my day was one of the kiddos I babysit for giving me a beautiful drawing…she then proceeded to take it back and say she decided to give it to someone else…hmm..that is my life in a nutshell)

Yes, a mission I accept. I love the idea of going to bed earlier (I typically hit the hay at 4 am! talk about messing with circadian rhythms. Unfortunately my loud, herbal-smoking, incense-burning neighbors tend to want to thwart my “going to bed early goals” (no offense to those who enjoy these things, I just simply do not want them encroaching on my fragrance and drug-free home).

@Allison: In regards to “blocking things out” when I first tried dabbling in meditation and stress reduction it simply did not work for my personality type to block things out (by doing that I thought about everything MORE).
2 things I found helpful:
1. Instead of shoving thoughts out of your mind try to let them come in and sail right back out..like little waves coming and going on the shore. The point is to not deny that your thoughts are there but to let them come and go without necessarily causing you stress. You can notice them and then just release them without ruminating. Although I STILL find this difficult, I do believe that it is more helpful, for me anyway, especially in regards to translating medication/stress reduction over to everyday situations as we can’t really control the external circumstances but simply our reactions (i.e. if we choose to freak out or not..ha ha)

2. Active meditations (something I wish to explore further): I simply cannot sit still. If I tried to meditate like that, even for years upon years I would probably end up getting one-millionth of a millimeter closer to serenity. I think anything that is semi-repetitive or that completely gets you into that “zone” state (for some people it is drawing, knitting, cooking, and so on). But one neat idea I always like was staring at a candle flame. Just concentrating on the flickering and where it goes.

Hopefully this helps!