My macro edits are due to my publisher on Friday. Yes, six days away. Right now, I’m living in the land of STRESS. You know, the place where you eat anything on the planet and plenty of it, where you wake up at [6:30] on a Saturday morning wondering how you can fix that one section, where it looks like you will never see the light at the end of the tunnel.
What’s a woman to do? My favorite stress busters:
1. Chocolate. ‘Nuff said.
2. Have my daughter brush my hair. It’s relaxing.
3. Related to #2 – massage. Either I try to talk my hubby into this or I pay for one. Too bad the effect only lasts for about five minutes 😉
4. Chocolate.
5. A walk. I do it first thing in the morning so I can’t make up any excuses why not to walk. It’s refreshing, relaxing and gets those juices flowing.
6. A good movie. There’s nothing wrong with taking a couple of hours out and forgetting about everything. You feel more energized after a break.
7. A good friend. A friend is someone who will sit with you for an hour and listen to you as you pour out all your woes. She sympathizes. She brings you chocolate.
8. The Word. A day started with the Lord, a day walking with the Lord, is a day of less stress. He will see you through. Whatever happens is not out of his control.
9. Kids. They are funny and fun. They’ll have you smiling in no time, no matter what. Great blood pressure lowerers.
10. Chocolate.
How do you relieve stress?
Try rewarding yourself: sometimes when I’m under pressure, if I set a “goal” for the day it then backfires on me because then I have the additional pressure of reaching that goal. Instead, I just give myself a reward to look forward to after the day’s work, such as a favorite DVD or curling up with my cat and a book. I also keep plenty of hot drinks (coffee, cocoa, tea) beside me so I feel glued to my computer, but with all that fluids in me I’ll make bathroom runs to keep my circulation going.
You will do well. Keep thinking that this is what you want and that really, it’s not torturous. Grueling, but not as if you’re facing a dreaded disease. Hope this cheers you up. I hope to be in the same boat as you one of these days!