How to Properly Staycate

In just a few hours I will embark on a proper vacation. What that means is that I am taking a full week off to recharge my battery. However, due to funds and general lack of options, my vacation has turned into a staycation of sorts. 

Over the years, I have become the expert on a proper staycation. Believe it or not, it takes a little bit of planning, or  you will simply watch an entire week just fade away into the distance. 

With that being said, here is my fail-proof way to Staycate:

1. Start with a clean slate. What I mean by that is, it is important to get your affairs in order. Pay your bills, make those payment arrangements (in other words, you don't want annoying bill collector phone calls.) Set your "out of office" notice at work. Buy all of the necessities (toilet paper, basic essential groceries, etc.) and most importantly, spend one full day organizing. That way, after the first day or so, you can truly unplug and unwind. 

2. Plan, but don't plan. I'm sure my roommate would argue that true relaxation would require zero plans - but for me, that just stresses me out and I end up not doing all of the things I really wanted to do. I suggest making a list of activities/stuff you would like to try/accomplish (if laying around and doing nothing is one of them, then by all means list that!) That way, you have options. Options = less time trying to figure things out.

3. Don't over commit. Once you announce to everyone that you are going to be on vacation, suddenly friends from out of town, or even in town, begin to try and make plans with you. Hear them out, but don't over commit. It's best to select one or two activities, and leave the rest up to "maybe."

4. Groom. What I mean by this - take the time to take care of yourself. Need to get your hair trimmed and colored? Go do that. Need your nails done? Get that done also. Need to get a facial, massage, or wax? Then make those appointments. Treat them like opportunities to unwind. This will add to that "just got back from vacay" glow.

5. Read. I do read a little every night, but not enough to really make a dent in any of my books. Pick out at least one good book, and take some time to just be transported to another place. 

6. Stay up late. Sleep in. Granted, I probably do this more often than not, but this time, do it without guilt. Let yourself rest. You do realize that when you are sleeping, the body begins to heal itself. Make sure to heal - physically, mentally, and spiritually. That's the whole point of vacation.

7. Day Trip. Just because you aren't staying in a hotel somewhere does not mean you can't have any adventures. Choose to go antiquing down some old country roads. Visit a local animal sanctuary. Go pick blueberries. Just do something. 

8. Watch movies and daytime TV. I know this is probably a big part of the sloth factor for me. I plan to pick out a few movies to devour and definitely finish a season or two of old television series. 

9. Cook something new. I'm always saving recipes I want to try someday. But because I am constantly busy or too tired after work, I end up just avoiding it all. Why not give it a go?

10. Check in with old friends and family. Through out the work week, and even on the weekends, the last thing I want to do (for the most part,) is try the whole catching up thing. I'm usually just too mentally exhausted. Give it a few days, then make those phone calls because you can relax and pay attention. Trust me, it's good for the soul. 


What would you add to this list? 

***photo source: http://www.oregonlive.com/photo-contest/index.ssf/2012/04/vote_for_your_favorite_coffee.html***

How do you recharge?

I'm in need of a little rejuvenation this weekend. The week was a little blah, and I was a little blah.. and it's time to pull myself out of the blah.

My question to you is - How do you recharge?

I have a variety of ways I pull myself out of a funk. I think it's the secret to my "resilience" and I thought I might share a few of those techniques right here.

1. Write. I think that's a given. I write it all out here. I even have a private journal I keep at home. If you are not accustomed to writing out your feelings, I suggest you give it a try. It's incredibly therapeutic. Grab an old spiral notebook, set your alarm for 10 minutes, grab a pen and just write. Typically anything I write is just a stream of thought.. nothing more. I promise, you'll feel great afterwards.

2. Get a good night's sleep. For whatever reason, it's not easy to sleep well during the work week for me. By the time I get home from work, I'm either so zonked I end up dozing off on the couch. Of course that means I wake up about 8:30 or 9 and end up staying up to almost midnight. What I like to do is take a nice weekend night, go to bed at a decent hour (for me that's 10:30pm,) and sleep to about 8 or so. I usually wake up feeling refreshed.

3. A good hot bath. I like to pour the bubbles or bath oils, and just soak. I immediately feel my muscles relax, and my stress sort of is soothed away.

4. Read. Even if it's just a magazine, pick something up. If I can get engaged in a book, I sort of release and relax my brain from my worries and troubles.

5. Music. I always joke and say that music is the poor man's therapist. I will typically grab my ipod - iphone, throw my ear buds in and just dance around my apartment. I will sing, dance.. just sit and digest the lyrics. It puts me in a great mood.

6. Organize something. Usually when I feel yucky, my surroundings begin to look yucky. I find that if I vacuum, if I straighten my closet, if I wash my sheets - just something... I begin to feel like I have a sense of control over my life again.

7. Games. Play a game of mahjong, chess, uno - something like that. Do a word search. Just exercise your brain. It's amazing how it sort of wakes you up and you feel great.

8. Smell and eat citrus. There is something incredibly positive about the smell of oranges. Plus the additional Vitamin C from consuming them is great also.

9. Drink water. Hydration can help your stress headaches and you just feel good.

10. I'll admit - good conversation and maybe a cup of coffee can really make me feel like a million bucks.

So there you have it... my top 10 ways to recharge and get a good perspective. I realize I left something super important out - and that's prayer. Spend some time in nature, go to a church, or just meditate. Find a way to recharge that part of you, and you will feel a sense of peace.

With that.. it's time for me to go find myself again. Shake off the yuck and feel great!

Tranquility

I am popping back by my blog, because something wonderful is taking place.

I think I found my balance ~ finally.

You know how they say, you have to hit bottom in order to rise even further? Well, last night, yet another great fear enveloped me. After facing that fear head on, I tell you this today - some miracles have taken place.

No, I am not employed. But other great things are happening.

I have found a bit of inspiration. I spent the morning answering emails, FB messages and the like. Nothing life changing there. But I did come across a wonderful article that reminded me of all of the good stuff that is in store on this first day of Fall. It was titled, "Nine Reasons to Love a Healthy Fall." I don't know what it was about this little list, but it sort of put things in perspective.

Following that, I was blessed to watch such an adorable video. Don't laugh - it was a BBC montage of baby animals in the wild. I can't help it, it melted my heart. I watched it several times. Sort of put me in a good mood.

Then I went on to watch a quick movie. One of the suggestions was some little "unknown" called "The Encounter." It was low budget, but the message, phenomenal. Only an hour and a half, and I recommend, if you need a little inspiration, give it a go.




If you have read "The Shack," it might remind you a little of that "chance encounter."

After that really sweet movie, I obviously was drawn to reading more of my book, "Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Your Marriage," and again got amazing advice.

Then, following lunch, I decided to lay in my sun room with the fan on, grab my little eye mask, and listen to a beautiful meditation on one of my Itunes podcast.

Can I just say it?

Miracle cure - all of the above.

I'm in a better place, and I thought I should share that. Or document it for myself. Or whatever.

Need a fix? Try that combo and see how you feel!

Chillin'

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities.  " ~Theodore Geisel

It's going to be one of those days.

I think for the first time in almost 2 weeks (yes, 2 weeks to today) ~ that I am able to truly NOT WORRY.

I don't know if it was the long ass interview yesterday, or me telling the egyptian what I thought about everything, or just finally being on my knees and asking God for a little mercy... there is something so freeing about being at the very bottom. I can't explain it.

Maybe it's the fact that I am such a perfectionist when it comes to having a great job, great relationship, etc. Maybe when I surrendered to reality, I was free.

Whatever happened, I am glad it did. Call it a wake up call, call it what ever you want. There is sense of freedom in it and I am happy. Not happy in a "I am feeling successful" kind of way, but more so in a "surrender" way. Can't explain it. The control freak has surrendered. Imagine that?

I am choosing to chill today. Nothing real to worry about, nothing within my control. I am in my pjs, drinking my coffee. I have everything I need for today, and that's all that matters. The rest are just details.

I am sure this feeling won't last - but for now it's nice.

I will meditate on Jeremiah 29:11 (which has become my absolute favorite Bible verse) -

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I am still in music mode, because it is the poor man's therapy. Here are a few songs I have listened to this morning... maybe the words have contributed to my "good mood."

Have a GREAT Friday. Try to "chill out" !

Some Kind of Wonderful

"The hardest work is to go idle. "
~Yiddish Proverb

Monday morning: A Venti Caramel Macciato in one hand, ipod in the other... singing along to Joss Stone's "Some kind of Wonderful.."

What do I have to complain about??

I am attempting to unwind. Officially. First time in 28 years. Really release that tension.

I believe it is possible, but I believe it might take a little tenacity. ;-) Time to just chill.... let's take Mr. Chesney's advice.



Just relaxing.

I am giving myself a day off from looking for a job. I thought I would take the time off this past weekend, but I did not. I need one day to just - BE. What a better day than Monday? A gloomy, muggy Monday at that, but a Monday, no less.

Music - coffee - a little cleaning - perhaps the pool - a few phone calls - a few movies - some good reading material...

It's all good.

I guess I should close with the song that put me in a good mood - sing along, if you will!

Get Thee to a Nunnery - Part Two

Part of me wonders if I should take a short sabbatical after Heart Month is over, and the egyptian has flown the coop. If you will remember, back in May of 2009, I decided to spend one weekend at a monastery in North Alabama. It was a way for me to reconnect, with myself and God.

I am a little frazzled (as you can clearly tell from my previous post.) Lots going on, and most of it is really good, just very demanding and exhausting. Some is so life changing, I am not sure if I am glad I am so busy or if I would prefer to stew over it a bit. Either way, it's all happening and it is happening VERY fast.

I have only 2 weeks left until the egyptian heads to NYC. I have two hard core weeks of a media tour. Seriously, every day there is a difference opportunity. Yesterday, I helped with an interview for the Shelby County Reporter, today? a radio interview with a Christian Station. It will continue like this until Feb 4th. Guess what? The egyptian leaves the 5th. No time to breathe.

The very next week or so we have a big Research Reception for the AHA (on my birthday) and I leave for a business trip the very next day. All in all.. no time to just be. Then there is the International Stroke Conference research to get out to the public, followed by the Heart Ball the very next weekend.

That's what I mean when I say I need a quick sabbatical. Just go off somewhere (technology free) and just read and write and pray and sleep. The monastery was great for that.

I know it seems a bit extreme going to a monastery, but I like to take things to the next level for relaxation. There is a convent up there also. I wonder if I can stay there. I might send them a message... seriously... I need it.

What about you? How far will you go to gain peace of mind?

Zen = Drool

"There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them." ~Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

Ain't it the truth?

As you guys know, I have been dedicating this year to finding my little Zen moments. See that cat to the left?(found on google images)  This is exactly how I feel right this very second.

If, as you are reading this, are stressed and had a really, really bad day - this image may make you feel like someone out of steam, tired beyond belief.

Now imagine an herbal foot bath, followed by a facial sauna with a plant based chemical peel and brightening face mask (which is constantly massaged into your face) -followed by an intense foot massage, topping the feet off with hot towels (one for each foot) .. then a complete head, neck & arm massage (also topped off with hot towels) - then finished with your entire face covered in a warm towel .... next your feel a rush of  steam infused with aromatic oils lightly spraying your face.

Then when it is all said and done, you are placed in a steam shower with 5 bagillion shower heads coming at you from all angles, as you use natural/herbal products to wash the day away?

Now look at the cat.

*meow* *purrrrrrrr*

THIS is a happy girl. Tonight I indulged - and oh it was sooo right.

So my Zen moment of the week equals drool. A lot of drool. I am a happy, calm girl. All is right with my soul. Can I get amen? Yeah you... in the back.

Not to mention, we have another long weekend. No work on Monday! Thank you Civil Rights guru Martin Luther King, Jr. for a lovely day to relax.

Now,  I ask you - if you had to pick one moment this week, just one, that you know in your heart brought you a little moment of Zen... what would it have been?

Press Pause

'I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart: I am, I am, I am. '~Sylvia Plath


It is week two of vacation, now it is more of a stay-cation. Besides pay a few bills online, I really do not have anything to do - and it is wonderful.

Spending time with my books, with my blog, with my movies, with my music.. and maybe a sprinkle or two of friends - will be the end of my 2010.

In typical bloggy-fashion, I have been taking stock of my year. Thinking of all of the changes that have taken place (both good and bad) and where 2011 will lead. I remember saying I felt like I was being prepped for something... who knew it would be something as big (for me) for the possibility of uprooting myself.

Some of you may be wondering why it worries me so. The truth is, and many of you who have been following know this - it's the egyptian. I love this man so much, but the past year has been tough. The cultural differences are just too much most days. (And I am the queen of international friendships!) I worry that uprooting, and moving far away from my friends and family (and then NOT getting along) would be too much for me to handle.

I try really hard, lord knows I do, but he is so edgy. He says it is because he is so unhappy in Birmingham. Which, I get. He believes if he is in a city like NYC, he can spread his wings and fly (so to speak in a cheesy way.)

I am trusting (ahhh... see my word of the year) in the process. I am going to take my own advice (thank you Telisa for the reminder) and enjoy the journey. That is what I preach, then by God, that is what I will do.

In the meantime, I will press pause on worry. I will put one foot in front of the other, I will breathe in and breathe out, and I will concentrate on my daily routine.

I will follow Thich Nhat Hanh's advice and: Smile, breathe and go slowly.