“This Is Your Sunday Evening Reminder That You Can Handle Whatever This Week Throws At You.”

“Healing is layers. Healing is time. Healing is excruciating. Once you think it’s done, it’s not.”

—

Mary DeMuth

(via surqrised)

“She had a passionate longing for the garden, the darkness, the pure sky, the stars.”

— Anton Chekhov, “After the Theatre”

Murals painted on buildings of the Spiritual Eco-Community in Damanhur, Italy

(Please do not remove source or text) 

Hi there! Im so happy i found your tumblr, because it helps me out a lot!! I’m kind of stressed this week because I have two midterm exams back to back, and I’m planning a huge surprise party for a friend. I’m trying to used DBT skills constantly, but the stress keeps coming back. What should I do?

Hi there!

I’m sorry you’re so stressed right now. I feel you. I have a big life change coming up and I’m constantly stressing. It’s AWESOME that you’re already using your skills. That’s like the first huge step already done (I spent a significant amount of time just lying in bed at first). I’m not sure what skills you’re already using, but I’ll tell you what I’m doing rn to manage my stress in the hopes that something resonates.

1. Stay HYPER organized. I’m making to-do lists out the ass. For some reason this time around my stress is motivating me instead of shutting me down. I’m writing down every little thing I gotta do so I can cross it off and feel like I’m making progress. In a way this is like celebrating your accomplishments. It can get so easy to ignore the little steps you’re taking and just see that you’re Not Done Yet. So write those little steps down and cross them off to see your actual progress.

2. Make your work “fun.” If you gotta study, find a nice nook in the library or a coffee shop that makes you feel the aesthetic. Idk if that makes sense, but make your environment as cozy, supportive, and neat as you can. If there’s planning to be done, do it with the tv on or music in the background if you can focus with it. Light a candle. Make tea. I feel like most people do this now, but it’s important to acknowledge it as a coping skill. It helps you recognize that you Are doing stuff to help. 

3. Schedule in relaxation time. I’m having a hard time with this one bc I can’t focus on anything if it’s not For The Mission. Go have lunch with a friend. Make time to cuddle with a pet or a partner. I watch a single episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine with my mother before bed. Do something that takes you out of the Mission and into the rest of life. 

4. SLEEP. Do not miss sleep for the Mission (idk when I started calling this the Mission but I’m into it). Being well rested will help you feel less overwhelmed and make it easier for you to handle stress. There’s lots of research on this blah blah blah. We all know it’s true so in the words of Shia LaBeouf JUST DO IT. 

I hope some of this is helpful to you. If you’re already doing all these things, let me know and we can dig a little deeper.

Good luck on your midterms and party planning!!!

xxKat

Since 1934. Los Feliz, California.