Stress Management

Well, I clearly fell off of the "post every work day" wagon last week. To be honest, we also ate out last week and the house was fairly messy by Saturday. These are all very bad signs around here; signs that I am stressed. So, this weekend I resorted to my favorite (and, really only) stress management technique. I thought I'd share.

I have a first response emergency method for dealing with drama. Maybe it is because I was raised southern or maybe it is a female thing, but I suspect that it works for everyone. It is really very simple. CLEAN THE HOUSE. And I don't mean the normal get-it-done-so-that-I-can function cleaning. Pick a room (I like the bathroom or kitchen) and clean the heck out of it. Scrub the grout! Polish the floors! Clean like you've never cleaned before!

For me, seriously cleaning house does several things. It is one place where I can really make a difference. Since not being able to influence an outcome to my satisfaction is often a source of stress and drama for me, this is very important. It also provides a short period of light physical activity. I rarely want to go work out when I'm in this mood, even though studies show it would help, but I will scrub tile on my hands and knees with no qualms. (I know, I'm sick and wrong.) In addition, it is just so difficult to be grouchy when I have even a few rooms in the house that are gleaming clean. And, of course, the rest of the house ends up getting "normal clean" just so it can keep up with the super clean rooms!

Cleaning house is the only real stress management technique that I have. The others things that I do are not so stellar. I don't sleep well, so I get sick. I disappear into books instead of talking to my circle of friends (sorry, ya'll, I've been terrible). Apparently, I also disappear from blogging. But this week, I have a plan. I am going to try an entirely new, top secret approach to dealing with the workplace drama. (OK, it isn't top secret and it isn't new, but it IS new for me to try this for stress, so be nice.) If it works this week, which is set up to be another doozy, (yes, I know that this is 3 in a row now and no, I'm not ready to look for a new job yet) then I will let you know.

The nice thing about seeing the stress coming is that I can be proactive. And, despite the boss flying in from NY, I'm planning to post every day (with the possible exception of Wednesday) this week. So, bear with me. My brain is under construction, but I think it is still open for business.