Filed under: Stress

Five simple things that always make me feel good

This summer, another string of events, appointments, holidays and to-dos has pushed me to the limits of my wits. Don’t get me wrong – I love being busy. Work has resulted in more work, and now I’m preparing for my own wedding and subsequent transition to living with my beautiful bride.

Things are crazy. Thus, I’ve recently found refuge in simple things which often go unappreciated. Some of these might seem obvious, but I thought I’d give my own perspective on these methods:

1.       Water: Especially in summer, one needs to remain hydrated. Duh, right? Well, after suffering many throbbing headaches and subsequent spells of grumpiness, I realized what was going on. The caffeine in my daily gallon (actually ~20 oz.) of coffee was taking a toll on my hydration. My health-minded coworker said that the average humanoid needs 64 oz. of H2O every day. That’s half a gallon. So, I dug out my 32 oz. orange Nalgene (neatly customized with a white Apple logo) and started filling it at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. every day. I felt better on the first day.

 

2.       Words: Yes, it’s an obtuse and slightly cliché thought, but I believe words help me cope with life. Whether its perusing my blog subscriptions on Google Reader, writing marketing materials at my day job, taking a quick adventure into the New Testament, talking with Stacy on the phone or listening to my iPod – words make me feel better. Communication is always good.

 

3.       Sweating: I’m a large person, and I don’t eat as well as I should. (By the way, I’ve come to the conclusion that anything is bad for you in some way.) Thus, I’ve been taking daily 15-minute jogs through my neighborhood. It doesn’t take much for me to work up a sweat, and it makes me feel like I’m getting the “bad stuff” out of myself. After two weeks, I’ve lost about 5 lbs. It might not seem like an amazing feat, but it’s a great way to break up a day of computer jockeying. If I’m feeling a lack of motivation to get my butt outside, I go on Facebook and click through pictures which feature my ever-present double chin and man boobs. These are my enemies. The urge to conquer them never fails to get me out the door.

 

4.       Family: Just like any good self-respecting South Dakotan, I take pride in and respect family traditions. My family is every bit as imperfect as yours, but even with thousands of miles between us, we never hesitate at the opportunity to spend time with one another. Even if it’s just a simple phone call or a “Hey, what’s up?” on Facebook chat – I always feel better after spending a few minutes with a relative. This year, Stacy and I will graft a new branch to the Nelson family tree. I’m pretty sure it’ll be the best feeling in the world.  

 

 5.       Bananas: If I can give one piece of advice to anybody who wants to feel better a.s.a.p., I’d tell them to put down the nachos (and the accompanying Mt. Dew) and reach for a good ‘ole banana. They’re cheap, they’re portable, they're sugary (in a good way) and they’re just plain good for you. I keep a bunch conveniently-placed on my kitchen counter so I can grab one on the way to work. They’re full of potassium (which helps you with # 1 and #3), they’re scientifically proven to reduce stress and they’re an easy way to suppress a stomach’s mid-morning/afternoon growl.

 

Next time you’re feeling like crap in your cubicle, try one of the above. I’m sure it’ll get your mental, emotional and physical health back on the right track.

 

Do you have a special feel-good tip? Please, please, please share it in the comments below. Thanks!