Wellness reminders

I don't know about you, but I can often get a little frazzled.

Shocking, I know.

I decided to do a little post-a-loo on a few things that help me stay grounded when life gets cray cray. There is no real method to my madness, and often times I'm too far down path de crazy to utilize my own advice, but I thought I'd write it down to remind myself for when things are tough. (And to hopefully help you too.)

Find home base.

Where ever your starting line, your home base, your reset button lies - find it and utilize it. For me, that means straightening up my home and my personal space, decluttering, and cleaning. This helps me in two ways - my mind clears when I declutter and I can rest in my home base and reset myself. Find your own home base. For some that may be a quiet room, for others, it is a refreshing shower. Just find your space - in the literal and figurative sense - to rest and reset. 

Know when to turn it off.

I have been really focusing on this one lately. Sometimes the TORRENT of information is quite literally, too much to handle. Between news stories, links on Facebook, and Twitter feeds - there is never a moment of peace. For me, I turn off my notifications, lay down my phone and say enough is enough. I listen to the hum of life around me and it clears my head. Plus, staying focused on being physically and mentally present for your loved ones is crucial for wellness at home.

Be easy on yourself.

This is probably one I struggle with most. I tend to spiral when things are stressful. At first it's about a singular event, then I focus on a string of events, and before I know it I am questioning every life choice I've ever made and wondering how I am even functioning. Forgive yourself. Trust your gut. And be kind to yourself. Write it down on those stickies and paste them everywhere (I mean they do come in packs of a zillion.) 

Hydrate.

Guzzle those fluids yo. And I don't mean sugary juices, energy drinks, or soda. Grab that good old H TWO OH. Dehydration just drains your energy. And speaking of energy, keep healthy snacks nearby with healthy fats and proteins. I am never one to say no to a doughnut, but I also keep nuts and cheese close at hand for those afternoon slumps. I have a liter-sized water bottle in my purse and keep filling it up. DRINK ALL THE WATER. 

Stay fresh.

Keep it fresh, princes and princesses. Go outside and soak in that Vit D. Open the windows and let the breeze flow in. Listen to new music, open a fresh bottle of bubbly, buy yourself a new snazzy top. Just keep things interesting and changing. I know I get stuck in ruts of routine and the familiar, but keeping things fresh and moving challenge the mundane and hopefully, destress your life. New cheese selection at Trader Joe's? Don't mind if I do. New documentary on PBS? Why I would love to learn about architecture of wind-resistant buildings in China! Keep learning. Keep reading. Keep discovering.

What are your reminders for wellness in your life? 

Ten things my mother taught me

I may be biased, but my mother is pretty great. And as a part of a new series - Ten Things Tuesday - I want to start with ten things that my mother has taught me over the years. 

Family is who you make it. 

Family is so important to my mother. She will drop everything to help a family member in need (she even hopped on a plane to be with me during labor - even when the first labor was a false alarm). She also believes that family is not just who you are related to. She values friends like sisters, my husband like her son, and her students like children. She'd do anything for her family and I have come to expand the definition of family because of her. 

Pour love into your work.

My mother is one of the hardest workers I know and she absolutely pours her heart into what she does. She treats her students like they can do anything even when they are dealt bad hands. No matter the task or job, she does it with the same energy and devotion as she does everything.

Foster your creativity.

I think my mother is on to something. She has always encouraged our creative as well as our analytical sides. We have always been surrounded by paints and markers and crayons and yarn and fabric. We got to dance and play musical instruments and play outside. I truly believe that I am where I am today because of her devotion to creativity.

Wear sunscreen.

Simply put, sunscreen is important for every day. She always told us stories about how she used to tan with baby oil until she was burnt to a crisp. Now she has to deal with annual skin cancer screenings and occasional laser removal of pre-cancerous spots on her skin. We were slathered with sunscreen growing up and it is a habit I have prioritized today. SPFantastic. 

Dance like no one is watching.

My mother is the type of person to dance in the middle of a crowded store when a good song comes on. As a child, it mortified me, but as an adult, I do the same exact thing. She taught me to be myself no matter what. She taught me that my interests are important and I should do what I love, watch the movies I want to, read the books that interest me, and do not compromise.

Insurance is worth it.

My mother has always stressed the importance of insurance - medical, dental, car, liability, home, etc. Even though it may seem tough to make those steep monthly payments, insurance is incredibly important. There have been times where the proper insurance has saved us financially. Paul and I now make sure we have all we need to protect ourselves. 

Don't neglect your relationship.

My mother and father have always said, "the D-Word is not an option." They have prioritized their relationship over the years and fostered their marriage. They show affection, go on dates, and love unconditionally. They have shown me that marriage is forever but that it also takes work. 

Dessert is not optional.

I grew up surrounded by candy, chocolate, and treats of all shapes and sizes. My mother firmly believes that if you don't make something forbidden, then you can learn to just enjoy a small portion and move on. Dessert is my favorite meal of the day, but I never overdo it on dessert. I have learned to enjoy sweets without feeling guilty. I have treated every thing the same way - and it's okay to indulge sometimes. 

Laugh often.

Laughter was a staple in my house growing up. My mother laughed at herself and made our home fun. Learning to see the humor in every day is one of the most valuable lessons she has taught me. Sometimes life is really, REALLY hard, but finding a little joy can make everything just a little brighter. 

Special occasions are to be celebrated.

We celebrate everything in my family - birthdays, graduations, milestones of all shapes and sizes. She never forgets to send a card and she always has some sort of holiday decorations in her house. I, too, believe that even the smallest things should be celebrated. Today, I hope that I can celebrate her just for being my mom and for all the amazing things she has taught me. 

Stress relief

This weekend I take the biggest exam of my life. Like, it's huge. Like, all weekend long huge. Like, all on the line. Like, woah. 

Okay I won't say "like" anymore.

To sum up, WREB is my license examination wherein I show my clinical competency in dentistry. Holy tomatoes.

As you can imagine, my stress level is off le charts. It is like a chaotic fiesta in my head. Throughout my education, stress has been my constant companion. We wear BFF necklaces. How I handle stress has changed and evolved throughout the years, so I won't bore you with all the deets, but here are a few things that help me de-stress and provide much needed stress relief as of late. 

Fake it 'til you make it.

When I am feeling particularly frazzled, there is something about a long, hot shower, a fresh face of makeup, a pretty hair-do, and my nice jeans that make the craziness on the inside feel more ordered. My brain may be cluttered and crazy, but when I feel put together on the outside I can focus on the task at hand. The same thing goes for an uncluttered space around me. When my home is clean and not messy, I can also work on the things that elevate my stress and deal with them accordingly.

Enjoy a beverage.

In the morning, I like to start with a cup of coffee or a nice cappuccino. The warmth of the sweet and creamy goodness help me start the day off with a bang and get s*** done. I also try to drink as much water as possible throughout the day. Dehydration makes me cranky, so NOTHANKS. And after a stressful day (like every day lately), I enjoy a nice glass of red wine and have some girl talk. There is something cathartic and stress relieving about a nice vent sesh...and some EtOH.

Curl up with a book.

I am a book worm, ya'll know that. Whether I can carve out an hour or just five minutes, an escape into a good book can do wonders for my soul. Try it, I swear you'll love it.

Date night.

Ew, I know I said it, date night. Sounds cheesy right? Well I'll say it again, DATE NIGHT. Or day or afternoon or morning or Tuesday... You know what I mean. Paul and I specifically carve out time to spend with one another. We watch a movie, make a meal, or do some activity that is not on the to-do list or required of us. He eases my stress more than he knows. 

Slobbery baby kisses.

My life as a mother has drastically changed...in the best way possible. Although motherhood is stressful enough, gazing into the eyes of my sweet girl just melts the world away. As I watch her play and discover, I feel one zillion times better. The crazy, stress-ball, frenzied side of me gets to put her feet up and smother an angel in kisses. Ain'tnothingbetta.

My stress is great, but the rewards are greater.

Isn't she the greatest?

How to keep your cool

The alternative title of this post was How To Not Bang Your Head Up Against The Wall In Frustration On A Daily Basis, but it seemed a little somber.

This week has been ahhhmazing. I have been working in Oakland China Town at Asian Health Services. It’s such a change of pace. I see 8-9 patients per day and I get to work with an assistant. The people have been wonderful. And let me tell you, the food in China Town is DELICIOUS, oh sorry, was I drooling? I love little hole-in-the wall places that take only cash and no one speaks English. The food is usually fantastic. My friend Joy calls our externship the Rotation Fatcation. Sounds about right. And I have two more weeks, yay! 

Any who, I was thinking about writing this post all week but I have been up to my elbows in people’s mouths and washing baby bottles. Not necessarily at the same time. Life has surely changed since having Emma. I have always been a morning person, and I still am, sort of. I no longer can take my time getting ready and I don’t even remember the last time I shaved my legs (oh wait, is that too much information?) I wrote a little post a while back about how to have a better morning, so this is along those same lines, except the exact opposite. I think? I don’t know, you be the judge. Is this real life?

HOW TO KEEP YOUR COOL WHEN LIFE GETS CRAZY

MAKE SURE YOUR COFFEE MAKER HAS WATER IN IT

When you are in a rush in the morning because your infant has insisted on eating, make sure that your Keurig is NOT out of water. I mean, it’s wonderful having to fill up the tank to get that cup brewing, isn’t it? And even better, make sure the Brita filter is filled too. Delish. It’s all I can do to just press the button, don’t make me work harder coffee gods. 

PREPARE THE BOTTLES THE NIGHT BEFORE

When I am on my last ounce of energy, I still try to prepare the bottles the night before. But I have to make sure I have enough. Oh wait, they are ALL dirty? That’s just great. Can I just turn the nipple inside out? 

MAKE LISTS

Seriously, my head is barely screwed on tight these days. I write down what I need to do, who I need to call, the shopping list, all the restaurants I want to eat at, oh wait… I use a paper pad that is magnetized to the fridge and I also like to use Evernote because it syncs to all my devices. #science

Seriously, lists are a life saver. Now only if I could remember where I laid it down… 

PICK OUT YOUR OUTFIT THE NIGHT BEFORE

Paul is really great about doing that. For me, it’s usually which dress pants have less spit up on them. Emma picks out her outfit too, but I keep telling her that her birthday suit is not appropriate for preschool.

KEEP THINGS ORDERLY AS YOU GO

I’m a little bit of a compulsive organizer. I may or may not fluff the couch pillows 37 times every night before going to sleep. Don’t judge me. Although things in the cleaning and organizing department have dropped off a little bit since Emma popped out of me. I still try to declutter and clean up as I go. It makes life a little easier when I only have to clean up 12 poop explosions and not worry about the dishes in the sink. 

So I don’t necessarily know if I’d call this list helpful, but I hope it made you chuckle. But what are ya going to do? Oh parenthood. 

Have a nice weekend everyone. I hope you take a fatcation. 

25 Simple Joys

I turn 25 on Sunday. Woah, when did that happen? I guess things are easy to forget with an infant rolling around, causing mayhem. I don’t exactly know what we are doing yet to celebrate, but I’m sure it will be grrrrreat. Wine tasting maybe?

Last year I wrote about the 24 things I’ve learned in 24 years. Instead of just adding one more thing to that list and renaming it to 25 things, I thought I’d mix it up and list the 25 simple joys in life which I find stinkin’ wonderful (and a little random). 

1. Taking your shoes off at the end of the day.

2. Peeling off the screen protector on new electronics.

3. A child’s laughter.

4. Having exact change.

5. Getting sat right away at a restaurant.

6. All-you-can eat. 

7. Listening to your favorite song and dancing like no one’s watching. 

8. Running with the wind in your hair. 

9. Running out of shampoo and conditioner at the same time.

10. Endless ice cream samples. 

11. In N Out.

12. Impromptu shoulder massages.

13. Getting mail from loved ones.

14. Finding a new book series to love.

15. Smiles from your little one.

16. Sipping tea that’s the perfect temperature.

17. Catching the bus/making the light.

18. Bubble baths. 

19. Newly laundered sheets and pillow cases. 

20. Fresh flowers in the house.

21. Kisses!

22. Getting everyone in the photo on the first try. 

23. Christmas lights/music/everything.

24. Finally getting that sneeze out. 

25. Zero inbox.

I am sure I could come up with 25 more simple joys, but these are the first that come to mind. I am a little floored that I am turning a quarter of a century. I feel old and, at the same time, incredibly young. So I’ll have a few tequila shots with my new AARP membership, thank you very much.

What are your simple joys? 

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