Results tagged “stress”

I'm starting a vision board. 

I've toyed with the idea for awhile now, but always kinda thought it was silly.  Yes, I do believe that if you think positively about certain things (let's face it, I'm too jaded to think happy thoughts all of the time) that positive things will come your way. 

Why the sudden urge to do it? I spent all of Tuesday and most of yesterday totally bummed out. 

I kept thinking about all the things I don't have, can't have, can't afford, blah blah blah.  Just generally icky thoughts.  I was also obsessing over my want for a "big girl camera" and convincing myself I could look but never touch.

That's ridiculous. I mean seriously...it's absurd.  What a stupid thing to be upset about!

Then I started to get mad for feeling sorry for myself.  Then I got tired of being mad.

So I decided it was time to set my sights on my desires, make them possible in my mind instead of unattainable, and create one of them there fancy vision boards. 

So far, it's just a print out of the camera I want (Nikon D90) taped to the side of my desk lamp (because I can't ignore it there) and would you believe it... I actually feel better.  Really. 

When I look at the picture I can actually feel it in my hands and I'm instantly happier because I know one day I'll have it. 

So whether I got it today, tomorrow or 6 months from now, I am instantly gratified by the feeling I get when I think about it.  Rather than feeling sorry for my financial hurdles, I smile knowing the camera is definitely mine...I just don't have it in my hands yet. 

But I will.  Most definitely. 

And now I know I can start to feel better about larger, more consuming issues (like money, relationships, etc) by knocking the smaller things out of the way.  Hopefully this is the road to a less worrisome me.  A little bit less stressed out me, because big or small, I'll always find a way to stress about it...and I'm sooooo over that. 

So, if you were to start a vision board right now, what would be on it?  A vacation?  Money for the bills?  A new jacket? 

When I was in college we were asked to do a study on our daily moods by keeping an hourly journal.  By moods I mean when we stress out the most, when we're feeling most creative, when we feel motivated to study, when we just plain want to nap, etc. 

The idea behind this particular project was to show how stressed out we college students actually were.  No big surprise there.  However, what I remember most (besides the fact that I am a walking ball of stress) is my creative periods of the day.  It occurred to me that this knowledge held great power.  I could clock almost exactly when I was feeling most inspired. 

The hard part?  Well motivation of course.  How many times have you come up with that great idea and forgotten to write it down.  Or maybe you just wanted to doodle, but you turned on the TV instead.  The key is learning to take advantage of these times, particularly if you can become aware of when they are.

For me, it's early early morning (when everyone is still asleep and quiet) or late at night.  Since I tend to see the later side of the day more often, that's when I need to learn to kick it into gear.  Like now for instance as I write this around 10pm.

Why am I suddenly reminded of this?  I found this article which discusses a scientific study on this very subject.  

Turns out, according to researchers, we all have "eureka moments" later in the evening.  Particularly around 10:04pm to be precise.  However, as I mentioned above, most of us tend to forget to write our ideas down when the big AH HA! happens. 

It goes on to talk about the 9-5 work day and how (shock) we become less and less motivated until hitting rock bottom around 4:30 in the afternoon. 

So, if you were motivated to read this far, here's your homework.  For the next week you should pay attention to your own personal cycle and always keep a notepad handy.  When are you most stressed out?  When do you feel most inspired?  Motivated?  Tired? 

Don't do it for me, do it for yourself.  You might find it helpful in the planning of your day.  Not that I suggest you plan your days all the time, spontaneity is the spice of life after all.  It's just that, well, wouldn't you like to be ready for those creative spurts with a pen and paper, or your computer, or crayons?