Do you have any daily rituals or routines to preserve your sanity?

[sweetdandelion]

apart from mumsnetting or

I think I am constantly tense on edge. Normally i'd say I'm a happy and grounded person, but I find that working 4 days a week, staying on top of the dc's school life and activities, household chores and various health niggles, elderly parents and in laws some of whom cause stress.... I feel my breathing is shallow, racing heart, and I am regularly waking up at 5 and can't go back to sleep, not because of massive worries, just a low level sense of buzzing tension and an endless to do list.

I suppose I have lost my mojo trying to keep on top of it all. And I am getting impatient with my family and people in general.

Please would you share some of your 'good' habits that you do to protect your sanity and deal with life's ordinary stresses?

[MiddlingMum]

I go for a run.

[catography]

A touch different to you as I don't have any DVD but DP and I work high stress jobs and I've only just learnt how to make time for 'me' to save my sanity.

Make lists! A home list, a DC list, a work list, a you list. And when you're at home/work etc make sure you're only thinking/focusing about what's on the specific list.

Leave your phone in another room after 6pm

I do five minutes of stretching before I get out of bed, really basic but feels lovely

We get really lovely coffee for our mornings and I make sure I have at least 30 seconds to really appreciate that first sip

Running with a banging playlist!

[neamchimpsky]

I try to be totally present in whatever I'm doing. So if I'm working, I'm not trying to internet shop/worry about kids,/make appts, and if I'm with the children I put phone away and try to purposely listen (usually to whittering but they appreciate it), if it's my down time I try not to waste it so will go for a walk, read a book or whatever without trying to multitask. I do use "dead" time waiting at activities to do things, but I find it less stressful to focus on one thing at a time. That and saying no a lot, having lower cleaning standards (!) and viewing myself as worthy of taking care of as much as my children...

[BogstandardBelle]

Massive declutter and lots of empty spaces as a result.

Stopped drinking during the week and only one night at the weekend.

Go to bed at 10pm every single night that I can.

Stopped using phone before bed and leave it charging in another room. Ditto to TV - haven’t watched it after 8pm for weeks now. We read a lot instead.

[Mixedupmummy]

following. some fab ideas here. I've been trying for a while now but it's hard to make anything stick for long. hoping that the main issue is that I'm ebf dc3 and that when I stop it'll be easier to get a bit of me time.
20 mins in the morning to drink a cup of tea and get ready before dh leaves seems to be a good habit that's sticking.
& trying to have hot baths a couple of times a week. great for releasing tension.

[MysweetAudrina]

I set my alarm for 6am every morning and get up, shower and drive to work, where I park my car and walk 5 minutes to a yoga studio and practice yoga in a class from 7-8.

It means that dh has to get the kids up and out every morning but I am selfish about this as I prepare their lunches and uniforms, shop, cook, look after the washing etc and it means that it only takes me 20 minutes to get to work whereas if I left an hour later it would take me an hour.

[itsboiledeggsagain]

Something that has made a massive difference to my sleep and stress levels is leaving my phone downstairs to charge. It means I read before bed and I don't wake up and think of my to do list. Try it a night or two?

[Zoflorabore]

Great thread op :)

Here's mine-

Wake up before anyone else and just enjoy the peace with a cup of tea and a cig and go on MN for half an hour.

Meditation- this has been amazing. I've only been doing it for a few months but I go on YouTube and flit between mindfulness/meditation and hypnosis for my anxiety.

I don't watch any T.V at all in a family that all love it. I prefer to read as I feel so relaxed and calm.

I have a treat every day. At the moment I'm loving pop tarts

I make time to have a shower, do my hair, put perfume on and a bit of lipstick and blush and groom my eyebrows, makes me feel human.

I get my nails done ( shellac ) and eyebrows waxed and tinted every few weeks. I am not
very high maintanance but these are a must.

Lists- i use them for everything.

I have a good evening and morning routine for the dc ( 7 and 15 ) and have all uniforms
ironed and ready.

Lastly, I've not had a drink for a few months as I can't deal with the hangovers as I have fibromyalgia and they last for days. I feel much better for it.

Sorry for such an essay, I've only learned to look after myself properly this year as have been looking after my dgm until earlier this year who has dementia but she is now in a care home, I was looking after everyone but
myself and it nearly broke me.

Lastly, de-clutter ruthlessly!

[ElspethFlashman]

Stopped drinking during the week and only one night at the weekend

DH and I have been doing this for a few months. We feel miles better for it. We also find we're snacking much less. And actually drinking much less on our one night, also. Our tolerance has gone way down. No harm!

[AngryPrincess]

Meditate
Excersize
Get some time to yourself