Life got ya down?
Sometimes when we are depressed about life, whether it is our job, our bank accounts, our surroundings or our people, nothing seems to work in trying to make us feel better. It can become so bad that we cringe and practically hit a friend when they attempt to cheer us up by saying, “Well its not so bad. Look at all the great things in your life to be happy about.” (ewwww).
When you got the blues and the clouds make everything look grey, nothing, even a perky friend you want to slap, can make you feel better.
Except things can. There is are easy ways to feel better (unless you have PMS in which case, tough shit just ride it out).
First thing you can do is cry, scream, and shout or punch a pillow. Letting your feelings boil under the surface will just make you explode later on. Give yourself an allotted amount of time (say 30 minutes). During those 30 minutes you are allowed to feel as shitty as you want to feel. You can cry, punch things and yell if you wish. Just stick to the 30 minutes. When the time is up, give yourself some tough love and get to the feeling better part.
Some tips to help you along.
- Put on a very funny movie. Laughter releases endorphins, which is like the best drug ever…only it’s not bad for you.
- Take a 15-minute walk somewhere pretty.
- Make a list of 10 things, people and stuff you have that make you happy.
- Daydream about a happy memory for a few minutes.
- Pet your pet. Don’t have a pet? You can borrow mine.
- Put on some music and dance around. (Just don’t put on Radiohead or any music to slit your wrists to).
- Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself everything is going to be ok. Positive affirmations work.
- Give a gift to someone. Studies have shown that giving brings more happiness than receiving.
- Call your parents. Ok, they may drive us crazy some (or all) of the time. But when push comes to shove, they tend to give us that spoiled unconditional love we all need. This goes for grandparents, brothers, sisters and your favorite aunt.
- Get a hug. Don’t tell me you have no one to give you a hug, because someone will and wants to.
If nothing else works, just remember feeling bad is a temporary feeling. Bad days, down days and down right shitty days are a part of life. Just try to remember that even though you have to crawl through all that poop, there is a shower waiting on the other end to clean you off when it’s all over!
Got any tips you use to help you feel better? Share them with us!
Tags: bad days, feeling better, feeling good, good mood, mood, tips to feel good
When your head is full of things you need to do, this small little tool will save you time, sanity and bruises caused by bashing your head against the wall.
My life does not only consist of work (and trying to find it while working). I have the cat and laundry and a swifter wet jet and cooking and reading and working out (wishful thinking) and a boyfriend whom I like to hang out with while not doing laundry or the swifter wet jet and the occasional vacation (I am spoiled with travel), snowboard day and lazy Sunday with the girls.
If you managed to read through that without taking a breath, good for you!
Life can be overwhelming at times and, if you are like me, you can find yourself forgetting to take a breather or even to pee (it can happen), but a simple tool exists to rectify this issue and if done right, can save you loads of time so you have more of said time to be a lazy ass and watch CSI reruns for an entire Saturday.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you The Notebook.*
The Notebook* is a small ruled book I carry with me everywhere. At the top I put a date and underneath it, everything I need to do that day. This includes work, chores, free time (yes I schedule free time - OCD alert!), and even what I plan to cook for dinner. Every time I get something done on the list I mark an X next to the item (on very stressful days I just cross the entire damn thing out because it feels so good). If I don’t get something done that day, it goes on the list for the next day.
That’s it.
That is my productivity secret. An old school notebook to do list that uses rollover-todo-technology (patent pending). Shockingly easy.
Why it works
- It clears your head to write things down.
- You spend less time trying to remember what you need to do
- It helps you plan better .
- It increases your chances of getting things done and off your list.
- It helps you hold yourself accountable.
- It is a small tool for big organization.
Tips for Your Notebook*
- Choose a good sturdy notebook. I like Moleskine notebooks
. They are exquisite in every way. I use them for everything. They last forever and Hemingway used them to write (so cool).
- Some find it helpful to draw a box to the left of each item. This is the box that will be checked when something gets done.
- Don’t let your list get longer than a full page. If it is longer than a full page, you have issues bigger than my own.
- Don’t freak out if you don’t get everything done in a day. It is ok to not get it all done. I aim for 60% (but you don’t even have to pick a percentage).
- One day a week, hide your notebook and let yourself watch Sex and the City, sleep in and rebel against the notebook.
I know this sounds too easy. Trust me, I have tried every time management and productivity tool out there. This is the only one that has actually worked in the long term.
As they say (somewhere, someone says this), the simplest solutions tend to be the right ones.
*not the movie with the hot romantic guy. (swoon)
Tags: improving, moleskine, notebooks, self improvement, time management, to do
Really, it is more like an I Heart You, I Luv Ya, Ditto type of world isn’t it?
I doubt I will have a very successful time convincing someone to write a love letter with a feather tip and wax seal, but a typed one or emailed one couldn’t hurt anyone. Actually, it will most likely make someone’s day, including your own. Everyone has a loved one, your boyfriend, husband, wife, mother, father, brother or good friend - find someone to write to!
Love letters have historically been a confession of deep longing and desire as men and women found themselves separated by distance only traveled by boat or horse carriage. Often it was even to a mistress who had to receive a love letter in order to maintain her position as a lady in waiting. Fortunately, we are no longer surrounded by distance that cannot be traveled or circumstances that cannot be rectified. However, that shouldn’t mean love letters should fall by the wayside.
Three reasons love letters are awesome
- It is easy to express yourself with written words and harder with spoken words.
- Everyone loves receiving them.
- It may get you laid.
Tips for writing the best love letter.
- Always begin your love letter with a greeting.
- Make it personal. If you are a very funny person, feel free to joke around. Sounded like a Don Juan may seem comical and insincere if you are not normally a Don Juan.
- It does not need to be long unless there is a great physical distance between the sender and receiver.
- Don’t be phony with your feelings - be honest even if it sounds cheesy. Don’t just state things you think the receiver wants to hear. Honesty is key. (unless you detest the person but in that case, don’t write a love letter!).
- You can talk about fond memories you have of this person and how it made you feel. “I remember when…”
- You can talk about thoughts and ideas for now and the future.
- You can even talk metaphors and poetry if that is your wish.
- Humor combined with mushy gushy stuff is awesome.
- Try to keep the language nice. “I fuckin love you man!”
- If you are stating things you love about the person or things the person does that pleases you, take his or her feelings into account if it may embarrass. For example, saying “I even love how you fart in your sleep” may not be the best idea.
- Clichés are so cliché.
- If you are handwriting your letter, put it on nice sturdy paper. The recipient will most likely keep it for years.
- Always end your love letter with a good closer.
- If you find yourself completely stuck and think I am ridiculous and, dare I say one of those crazy girls, then stick to the basics: Hi, I love you because…Love Bob.
Samples to help you out
For the Jokster - Lewis Carroll
Christ Church, Oxford, October 28, 1876
My Dearest Gertrude:
You will be sorry, and surprised, and puzzled, to hear what a queer illness I have had ever since you went. I sent for the doctor, and said, “Give me some medicine. for I’m tired.” He said, “Nonsense and stuff! You don’t want medicine: go to bed!” I said, “No; it isn’t the sort of tiredness that wants bed.
I’m tired in the face.” He looked a little grave, and said, “Oh, it’s your nose that’s tired: a person often talks too much when he thinks he knows a great deal.” I said, “No, it isn’t the nose. Perhaps it’s the hair.” Then he looked rather grave, and said, “Now I understand: you’ve been playing too many hairs on the pianoforte.”
“No, indeed I haven’t!” I said, “and it isn’t exactly the hair: it’s more about the nose and chin.” Then he looked a good deal graver, and said, “Have you been walking much on your chin lately?” I said, “No.” “Well!” he said, “it puzzles me very much.
Do you think it’s in the lips?” “Of course!” I said. “That’s exactly what it is!” Then he looked very grave indeed, and said, “I think you must have been giving too many kisses.” “Well,” I said, “I did give one kiss to a baby child, a little friend of mine.”
“Think again,” he said; “are you sure it was only one?” I thought again, and said, “Perhaps it was eleven times.” Then the doctor said, “You must not give her any more till your lips are quite rested again.” “But what am I to do?” I said, “because you see, I owe her a hundred and eighty-two more.” Then he looked so grave that tears ran down his cheeks, and he said, “You may send them to her in a box.”
Then I remembered a little box that I once bought at Dover, and thought I would someday give it to some little girl or other. So I have packed them all in it very carefully. Tell me if they come safe or if any are lost on the way.”
Lewis Carroll
For the Romantic - I give you Napoleon
Paris, December 1795
I wake filled with thoughts of you.
Your portrait and the intoxicating evening which we spent yesterday have left my senses in turmoil.
Sweet, incomparable Josephine, with a strange effect you have on my heart! Are you angry? Do I see you looking sad? Are you worried?…My soul aches with sorrow, and there can be no rest for your lover; but is there still more in store for me when, yielding to the profound feelings which overwhelm me, I draw from your lips, from your heart a love which consumes me with fire? Ah! it was last night that I fully realized how false an image of you your portrait gives! You are leaving at noon; I shall see you in three hours.
until then, mio dolce amor, a thousand kisses; but give me none in return, for they set my blood on fire.
Tags: how to write love letters, love, love letters, romance, tinylitlebit
The World Wildlife Fund has long been a favorite organization because it focuses on the animals. Who here does not have a soft spot for animals? Anyone? Yeah, thought so.
I remember walking around the San Diego Zoo a bit ago, speechless as the site of so many creatures currently labeled “at risk” or “endangered”. The many Zooological/ animal rescue foundations are doing all that they can to help habitats of these animals, but I highly doubt it is near enough.
Fortunately, organizations like The World Wildlife Fund offer ways that we can help, without digging into grocery money or our 401k.
Currently the WWF has introduced the Rescue Team in their effort to help the habitats of polar bears and other species, all in danger due to rising global temperatures near the ice caps.
For as little as $16 bucks a month (about four lattes or two alcoholic beverages) you can directly contribute to the polar habitats and help this little one
(ok seriously look at his face!)
Noah Wyle is the resident celebrity spokesperson for the Wildlife Rescue Team project. He has long been an advocate for charitable contributions and he speaks about the project here in length.
If you are able to help and it does not break your bank account, I highly recommend joining the team. You can choose your monthly gift (and they even have some nifty SWAG!), and are under no obligation to continue if you wish to cancel your pledge.
Click here to read more about the WWF Rescue Team.
Tags: animal rescue, charity, Noah Wyle, polar bears, tinylittlebit, World Wildlife Fund, WWF
Take a moment to go outside for 15 minutes and watch the sunset. Take a picture if it is awesome. If it is anywhere where you can see the green flash, you better show me. If it sucks…well tough shit try again tomorrow!
Tags: fun, happy, sunset, tinylittlebit
Check and see if the guy opens the door for you. Small gesture. Big telling sign.
Open the door for the elderly. Just do it.
Never snap your fingers at the waiter. They are not servants.
Try not to yell at the customer service representative. It is shooting the messenger.
Always tip 18 – 20%- 25% at a nice restaurant. Don’t double the tax. Especially if you had alcohol. (alcohol is not taxed so you will under-tip.)
Don’t talk on your cell phone in line.
Applying lip-gloss in public is ok. But go to the restroom to apply anything else.
Treat everyone with respect, unless they prove that they cannot be respected.
Shake hands when being introduced to someone.
Remember birthdays and anniversaries. Very important.
Remember the Law of Reciprocity
Say “please” and “thank you” to the waiter, it goes a long way.
At the grocery store, if you have a lot and the person behind you has very few, let them go ahead of you.
In the ladies room, let the pregnant woman go ahead of you if there is a line.
When you get into an elevator and are standing near the buttons, ask the other patrons what floor they would like to go to and push the button for them.
Silverware – Start from the outside going in.
Try your hardest not to fart in the elevator.
Always end emails, phone conversations, face conversations and instant messages with a proper ending. I.E Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you, love you, have a great day, see ya soon, ttfn, etc. etc.
Accept gifts and compliments with a thank you. Rejecting a gift or a compliment is like rejecting that person who gives it or calling him/her a liar.
If a friend has a giant pimple, don’t point it out and ask how it feels - trust me they know it is there.
If you do happen to fart in the elevator…well really there is no advice here
What are some of the things you all follow?
Tags: life rules, rules, tinylittlebit
I somehow have gotten the reputation that I like expensive things. I do. I really do. Not because they are, in fact, expensive, I just tend to gravitate towards liking things I cannot afford. Frustration follows.
However, when it comes to giving, money my friends is never an issue.
The best gift I have ever gotten was a very nice gift. I wear it everyday and it is a necklace, which aside from being two of my favorite gem-stones, means something very sentimental (gush).
The second best gift I have ever gotten cost about five cents. This gift was a letter. I am pretty sure the cost of one piece of paper, plus the ink and the envelope costs so little one could find the money to pay for it in the sofa.
What makes both of these gifts special? They were given from the heart.
Take note: gifts are awesome and gifts are important. Gifts show someone you care, that you are thinking of them, that they mean something to you, that they would be sad with you not around. All of this is wrapped up in a package that seems to say a whole lot.
However, lately I got to thinking about women and how sometimes what we think and what we want gets misinterpreted. We say we want a gift or a random act of kindness and one automatically thinks the only thing that will do is a new car or expensive shoes.
Gifts and money are not mutually inclusive. Gifts and giving are. The only thing that matters when it comes to a gift is giving it for the simple thought and meaning behind it is the real gift. Sometimes that gift may be big and sometimes it may be small.
Homework: Make a gift using five dollars or less of materials. Give it to someone on a day that otherwise means nothing. Watch what happens.
Tags: gifts, Giving, tinylittlebit
When I feel neurotic, or sad, or scared, or insert-yucky-emotion-here I get a good kick in the ass from my grandfather.
What does he say?
It only takes one sentence for him to slap me back into the reality that everything is not a big deal, and it is pretty damn easy to be happy most of the time.
“Rachel, we are all ants and all we can really see is the top of the ant hill.”
Sometimes I wonder what he means, and why he always seems to talk in metaphor. It’s like having this Yoda in my ear that can only be understood half the time and the other half I am left standing there muttering “huh?”
Sometimes I take this to mean that we can really only see what is slightly in front of us instead of the big picture. Sometimes I take this to mean that all people being equal parts of the puzzle, none of us are as important as we think we are, so self absorption is futile.
Most of the times I take that statement as if we really know so little, and can see so little, then from a universal perspective, we are ignorant.
From that I see that ignorance is truly bliss and although sometimes I don’t understand my grandfather I absorb the information anyway and if we know nothing, we can’t worry about anything…joy then is the only way to go.
Tags: Happiness, how to be happy, mood lifter, tinylittlebit
Ten things to be happy about…
1. Your pet. If you don’t have one, get one. If you can’t get one, buy a plant. Bonsai’s are fun. I once met someone with pet rocks.
2. Your body. The other day, while trying on swimsuits, I did the owl-turn-of-neck to see how my butt looked. There was a momentary cringe followed by a slight pinch of my cushiony bits. This was a blip. A glitch. I slapped myself (no not in the butt) metaphorically. My body is just fine. So is yours. Keep reminding yourself of that, especially in dressing rooms.
3. Your interests. Whether it is photography, music, technology or cactus, be happy about your interests for they make you unique. Relish in them and keep doing so for as long as you get satisfaction.
4. Your job. Yeah, so maybe you want a different one, a better one, a higher paying one. Unless you are crying every day when you get home, be happy you have a means to an end. If you love your job, be happy that not only do you have a means to an end, but an enjoyable day as well.
5. Your family, your boyfriend/girlfriend, your friends. This can cause the most happiness of all (and more often than not coupled with the most frustration). Whether your loved ones drive you to grow, drive you to be a better person or just drive you insane, the bottom line is they make us happy. Tell them they do so. Try to do things every day that you know will make them happy. They will also do the same.
6. Luxury. If you are reading this, that means you have a computer. If you have a computer that means you can afford luxury, be it large or small. If you love chocolate, buy the best there is. If you love fabric, buy high thread count (email me for suggestions). If you have very little money, borrow two bucks from one of those loved ones you just made happy to get the really good ice cream.
7. Your ability to learn. Can you imagine a fun life if you cease to learn anything new? I can’t either.
8. The mistakes you make. No one ever thinks they did it completely right. No one ever thinks they said the right thing. No one ever wishes they could have a do-over. Realize you are not alone, and your mistakes lead to growth. Often they made lead to a broken bone or a bruised butt….but those heal too.
9. Sleep. Sleep makes you live longer, live healthier, and be late for a morning meeting. But, how fun is it when you roll into work late in a shirt you found on the floor, wearing two different shoes because that was all that was in your car, and a stain on your pants from drinking coffee while driving, hoping no one will notice?
10. E-book readers. 180 books in the palm of my hand. Ok, that was a selfish number ten in my top ten…forgive me please.
Tags: Happiness, happy, how to be happy, tinylittlebit
