Whatever the case, when the suckies strike it's good to have a backup plan, a checklist of things to do to boost your mood and get you back on track.
Here are a few of my favorite "reset" buttons and little tricks to lighten the mood.
Ahh...the joys of napping. There's nothing like taking a break to rest your eyes and clear the mind.
If you're at work during a suckie strike, just close your eyes for 30 seconds and take a few long, deep breaths. It'll do in a pinch.
And if you can squeeze in a 20 minute speed nap on your lunch break, do it! I used to set a timer for 20-30 minutes, lay my head on my desk and take a light snooze. It's incredibly refreshing.
A little sun is good for you, ya know? and that gorgeous Vitamin D is sometimes all we need to perk right up.
There are days when I realize I haven't been out of the house for hours, and when I finally step into that slice of light and let the sun sink into my skin, it's total bliss.
A midday tea break, a warm baked blueberry muffin for breakfast, an afternoon walk in the park. What are the small things that make you smile?
Include a little something sweet, just for you, into your day. Something you can look forward to, so that even if you're feeling like crap, you know you have that treat coming your way.
Why do we hold in our tears for as long as we do? Crying is refreshing and releases toxins from the body. It's true! In times of stress and upset, toxins build up and releasing the tears (which hold more toxic byproducts than tears of irritation, a la chopping onions) is like natural therapy without the hefty bill. It's a massage for your mind, body, and soul!
Here are just a few good reasons why you should nibble on that truffle:
a) dark chocolate lowers high blood pressure
b) the antioxidants in dark chocolate gobble up free radicals, those nasty molecules involved in heart disease and other ailments
c) it helps boost your mood by releasing phenylethylamine, the same chemical your brain creates when you get that falling-in-love feeling
d) dark choco has a low glycemic index, which means it won't cause a huge spike in blood sugar levels
Need I say more?
Take out your notebook and list 5 things you're thankful for. Just five things! I bet you'll have way more to write out and I'm 100% positive that afterwards you'll feel a little warmer (and fuzzier?) inside. Here are five things I'm grateful for right now:
1. my puppy who just stretched and made the cutest noise
2. the antibiotics that helped me get past a nasty kidney infection
3. an afternoon cappuccino
4. peace & quiet to get this blog post written
5. the perfect breeze