Dealing With Stress

First, a disclaimer: I've never dealt with stress well. Stress management has always been a downfall for me. Although I've improved by leaps and bounds since high school and college, I still seem to let life's stresses affect those I am closest to. I hate it! And thought I've progressed over time, it still seems to hurt those I love and care about. How do I change this?

I know there are a couple things I can do right off the bat. First, I need to change what I do with my alone time. I need to learn to cherish this time and use it to re-energize myself, rather than sit in front of the one-eyed monster (otherwise known as the television). Second, I really need to start spending more time with girlfriends, as it is probably the pastime miss most. And third, I need to change the living situation, as I don't feel like I have anywhere to call home at this point in my life (which often adversely affects the previous two items needing change).

So there you have it. These things need to become a priority, not only because I need to deal with stress better, but because I want to remember my engagement as a happy time, not as a time when I let a lot of stress adversely affect the love of my life! And the funniest part about all this, the wedding is probably the one thing keeping me most sane - I find the planning to be a fun outlet for my creativity. Looks like some of the other areas of my life need to follow suit!

Hard Habits

Like most people I know, I began 2010 with a long list of lofty goals. However, it's just past the middle of February and I'm already falling into a weird (and completely reason-less) funk! Ugh!

I think the majority of it is that I'm still waiting on two major life changes - and the answers to both are long overdue! First, I put an offer on a house in AUGUST 19 (5 months ago today - exactly). I got approval on the first loan back in November, and am still waiting on the bank to take it's sweet sweet time in approving the second. It's a bit ridiculous, but it's pretty much everything I wanted. I've already told myself that if it falls through, I'm not meant to be a homeowner at this point in my life and Greg and I will get an apartment together after the wedding.

Additionally, I'm also waiting to hear about an advising job - something I've wanted to do since I started in higher education. Both situations are out of my control...and both situations are excruciatingly aggravating. And these predicaments both require patience, something I don't have much of to begin with. And since my patience is wearing thinner by the day, I'm falling into bad habits - comfort eating, not going to the gym, and getting mopey. Unacceptable - this does not help me achieve my goals. So since tomorrow is a new day, I will force myself to snap out of it, eat a healthy breakfast, and get my butt to the gym at lunch (so I can't talk myself out if it!!).

In other - amazing - news, Greg and I are engaged! We've been having a blast planning the wedding thus far. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life with my best friend - the man who loves me and understands me, even when I'm in the worst funk ever. So when I think about it this way...I should just drop this funk and get happy. Done...I hope!