Spring Chicken!

The clock change last night means it is officially British Summer Time, although the driving rain and wind outside makes me doubt this! BST and Easter always mean a fresh start to me, a second 'new year' if you like, and this time around I'm hoping to be more stress free. 


I've given myself 5 top tips/ways to lowering stress which hopefully will become part of my normal life! 

  1.  Be mindful. One of my housemates is a mental health nurse and constantly tells us we need to be mindful. She can sound like a broken record and we tease her for this, but 5 - 10 mins each day does help. I like to spend 10 minutes in the morning to be mindful of how I'm feeling, what worries I have, and what I need to complete that day. I take any thoughts on board and plan how to deal with them. I usually do this in bed when I wake up, it's an excuse to spend a bit longer in bed! I also spend 10 minutes in the evening going over what I've done that day, emotions, feelings, and what might need to be done tomorrow.
  2. Write lists. I am a list lover, if it isn't on my list it probably won't get done! Once I know what needs to be done I write it all down on a scrap piece of paper, that way I'm confident I won't forget anything! 
  3. Get real. Since Christmas I've realised I'm only human and there is only one of me. I'm realistic about what I can feasibly get done in one day. And realistic about my goals, change doesn't happen over night but that doesn't mean you should give up when you don't see immediate results. 
  4. Prioritise. I'm forever piling too much work on myself and pushing myself too hard, only to fall over before the end. I'm slowly realising that not everything has to be done in one day, if the task isn't urgent it can wait until tomorrow, or next week.
  5. Put myself first. I like to help others and often put themselves before me. I need to cut down because I leave little time to relax or enjoy the things I do. 

I also hope to get back to the gym properly after Easter, with a plan, though this will be difficult whilst I'm on my fourth placement. I'm interested in trying out some yoga, one of my housemates does yoga and seems to enjoy it. Maybe I can work it into my mindful 10 minutes in the morning and evenings! 

Until then, it is back to my essay on the septic patient, hopefully that will be finished by this evening! 


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