The past few weeks have been hectic to say the least with finding my groove in the new role at work and having my on-and-off-again long-distance Irish boyfriend move to Dallas, and I have found myself going a bit nuts… My zero-to-frustrated time is minimal, I’ve burst into tears twice and an early morning runner in my hose turned into an over-the-top dramatic event (there were witnesses too…). I may be a bit feisty, but this is too much even for me…something is out of wack.
In the past, I have written about the need to treat yourself for sanity’s sake and created a list of “treats” I give myself. In noticing my recent ridiculous and totally out of balance behavior, I realized that this list needs to be updated. What’s the additional sanity-saving treat? Blogging, of course.
Once I put my finger on what I was missing in my over-booked schedule, it was clear that blogging had to be a top priority in my life. Working longer hours and helping my foreign love get settled have caused me to write NOTHING and I HATE it. Previous Saturday morning writing sessions at my favorite Starbucks listening to my favorite music have become a creative outlet that I didn’t have before. I didn’t realize how much writing was a release that made me more sane. Not blogging has made me a bit agitated and edgy.
Here I am now back at the keyboard, and I’m already a bit calmer. I can’t promise another blogging dry spell won’t arise, but I can say it will be much shorter…for my and everyone around me’s sake 
Blogging is key for my sanity
The revised sanity list:
- Exercise – It was the first thing that I put back on the schedule. I put it high on the list, and I have felt healthier since. Stress was making me sick and tired all the time, and exercise helps to even that out. Bonus: no pills needed.
- Calling my family – When I have a free moment, I like to call my parents, my grandma or my brother’s family. Hearing my two-year-old niece’s voice or hearing about my Grandma’s busy social calendar always brightens my spirit.
- Wandering aimlessly around the grocery store – My dad and I used to go the store a lot when I was a little kid, and I love to do it now. It may be a bit weird to others, but I can stare at food for hours.
- Taking a bath – Again I revert to childhood happiness items: the bath tub. I have always been a water-loving creature and taking a bath is the business. You can read, play with toys and do some serious thinking. Fact: Alan Greenspan did some of his best work in the tub.
- Jigsaw puzzles – A bit nerdy, yes. I love ‘em though. They are mentally stimulating (have to keep that photographic memory running) and tons of fun. To me, there is nothing better than a pot of strong coffee and a jigsaw puzzle.
- Cooking – I love opening a bottle of wine and whipping up a delicious meal. You’ve got to eat anyways, so why not make it an enjoyable experience?
- Watching The Soup on E! – Joel McHale catches me up on all the ridiculous TV that I don’t have time to watch. Oh, and it’s is absolutely hilarious. It’s reality show clip time!!!
- Blogging – Blogging allows me to build my own little gem on the internet that is all MINE—it’s like my special construction project. Writing gives me a creative outlet that I NEED, because I find immense clarity after articulating my thoughts on life via writing for the blog.