Getting Through Life's Stresses And Strains

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Life can be stressful. That is pretty much one thing that every person on this planet can agree on. Nobody has it easy, and circumstances always seem to conspire against us to drag us down and make us feel bad. This could be relationship issues, falling ill, having an accident, or financial problems brought on by so many external factors. 

And when problems hit you, then everything else can fall down like dominos around you. Problems in work end up causing stresses at home. Soon you don’t know where to turn. Your life can feel as though it is inescapably stressful all of the time. The fact that you cannot find respite from the relentless problems that you are facing can make everything even worse. Sometimes, these problems have spiralled so much that you just struggle even to catch your breath.

Does all of that sound familiar? It gets to us all from time-to-time. However, some people seem to weather situations better than others. It may appear as though life’s significant hurdles are water off a duck’s back for some people. But it can be for you too. By developing strong coping strategies and noticing the signs of stress in your life early, and tackling them head-on, you can overcome them. 

Look After Yourself

The first thing that you need to do when stress starts to take over in your life is to stop and look after yourself. It can be very easy to neglect yourself when you are having trouble in life. You may not feel as though you deserve to feel better than you do right now. You need to make sure that you don’t punish yourself for the problems that you are facing. 

Make sure that you are eating a balanced diet. You will need your energy to get over this stress in your life. You should ensure you have the correct mix of vitamins and minerals. These will stop you from getting run down and will help you to stay as healthy as possible. 

Get lots of sleep. You will need a full eight hours each night. If you are cutting it short all the time, you will start to feel more anxious as a result. Tiredness is a friend to nobody. 

Getting some fresh air and exercise will help you feel better about yourself too. And, if you are struggling with your general health, diet, and exercise, then you may need to look at wellness programs.

Talk About It

They say that a problem shared is a problem halved. And you can really unburden yourself and share the load by talking to somebody. Talking through your problems can make you feel much lighter, but it can also help you to find solutions to your problems. 

Pick a friend who is a good listener. They may be able to give you advice and help you to see a new perspective on your situation. Opening up about your issues may help you to come up with a plan on how you will fix things in your life. 

How to Adapt Your Home as You Get Older

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You may not be getting any younger but if you want to stay in your home for as long as possible, you need to face the facts: getting older often means that your ability will be affected. However, a disability is only ever to do with the space you are in. If you are able to move around and operate within a space without a problem, you are effectively no longer disabled. 

So what should you do to make sure that your home continues to work for you? 

Getting Around

Being able to move around your home and go out as often as you like is really important. If you get stuck inside for a long period of time or have to rely on others to get out, you’re going to go a bit stir crazy in the end - however special you’ve made your home!  

Putting handicap ramps over steps up to your house and around your garden will make it much easier to navigate the terrain with sticks or a walker. If you have stairs, a stairlift could also be a good idea as this will make upstairs more accessible. 

Staying Safe

As you get older, it is well worth doing a few safety checks around the house and putting a few things in place to make sure you’re okay. The kitchen is a good place to start. Take any sharp knives out of your drawers and put them into a visible block instead. You should also consider marking your hob to make the “off” positions as clear as possible. In the bathroom, you should add a mat to reduce your chance of slipping and put grab rails on the wall to support you too. 

Many older people are at risk of falling and most will fall within their own home. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce that risk. For example, you should remove any trip hazards from the floor including loose wires, clutter and any movable rugs (which may be tacked down). You might also consider putting your lights on timers so that you don’t need to fumble around for switches when it gets dark. 

Employing Some Help

Even with a few adaptations, it is always worth looking into a bit more help around the house. Employing a cleaner is a good idea as this will free you up to do more things you enjoy while your house stays in tip top condition. But there are plenty of services you might like to try. 

Bringing someone in to help with your chores more generally is a good idea and there are plenty of services for people who need help with personal care too. Buying ready-made meals will also lighten the burden of cooking and could be a lot easier. 

Staying at home for as long as possible is a preference for most people and it’s vital that you put the changes you need into practice quickly. Don't wait for problems to arise before you solve them - get a jump on it! 

2019 Books Read and Plan to Read Kerrie McLoughlin (updated regularly)

Welcome to my online reading log! I love Scribd and you can check them out for two months for FREE to see which of these books might be on Scribd as an ebook or audiobook, just click on the word Scribd here in this post. I do find that most books I want to read or listen to can be found over there with only a few exceptions.

Please check back here regularly. I have eclectic tastes and I include what I'm reading to the kids as well (just click here to go to that post)! And yes, I do read more than one book at once! (disclaimer: I might get a few cents if you buy a book or ebook using the links in this post)

On my Scribd list of audiobooks to listen to next while I walk (I pay $8.99 for unlimited audiobooks and ebooks each month!):

Light Over London by Julia Kelly
The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty
Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
The Mermaid by Christina Henry
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman

Inside Out by Demi Moore finished in December and loved it! So many great insights I might just buy my own copy and mark it up.

Listened to this one on Scribd while I walked, put away laundry, made dinner, drove, etc. (Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine). I found it a little slow. (Finished August 12, 2019)

Reading this one in paperback by the pool (gift from my friend Jill); (Finished around August 20, 2019):


This one looks like a quick read I might do next:


Jill also gave me this one in paperback, and it will round out pool season nicely! (started 9/8/19 and still listening to on walks as of October 8, 2019)


Planning to start this one in September. Started this one August 12 on audiobook and was immediately drawn in (over half done as of August 27 and can't wait to see the movie); finished 9/8/19 and highly recommend:


I got a little distracted because some friends want to go see the Downton Abbey movie and it was a show I always wanted to start so I did. I watched before bed, while putting away laundry, doing dishes, cooking, etc. As of 10/8/19 I'm on the final season and excited to go see the movie with friends!


If I fall in love with Kristin Hannah, I'm heading to this one next, then I'll start posting more:


Then I'd like to check out this one:


And this one:


And this one:


I got this one free at church and keep it by my bed for reading a little at a time:


Suggested for everyone to read by Stephanie Williams on my Facebook fan page:

Stephanie Williams Read : A million Little Pieces, Piece of Cake and Vurt at least twice each.

Creating a Crafting Room

If you are crafting fanatic, perhaps your idea of a home makeover includes your very own crafting room. A wide-open space where you can cut, sew, glue, or bedazzle to your heart’s content doesn’t have to be something of your dreams. You can create a unique and functional crafting space even on a tight budget. Here are some tips on how to get it done.

1. You will need a sturdy table to give you the work space you need. By installing locking caster wheels on the base of a wooden or metal table, you can give yourself the freedom to move the table around to help accommodate projects better. If you will be sitting for a long time, use a stool rather than a chair at the table. If you want to add height for standing while crafting, add blocks under the legs.


2. Tape or glue a measuring tape to the side of your table to help make sizing easier. You can also use a vinyl stencil to label it directly onto the table.


3. Recycle used boxes around the house for storage. Shoe boxes make perfect crafting supplies boxes, as they come with lids and can fit on most shelving units. Cover them with some cheap fabric to give your room a finished look and make your storage much more appealing.


4. Having a sink in the craft room can be a huge help, but if you aren’t able to install one, there are other options. You can either purchase a camping sink that relies on a storage tank under the setup, or you can use a container with a spout and a five-gallon bucket for the dirty water. This keeps you from tracking a mess throughout the house.


5. Recycle empty soups can for more storage. Using the same fabric as you did for the shoeboxes, you can color coordinate and cover your cans to make them more exciting. By adding corrugated cardboard inserts into the cans, you can separate different sizes or types of paint brushes, markers, or pens.


6. Clear canisters are the best for storing materials like cotton balls, yarn, felt, or ribbon scraps. Be sure to use ones with lids. If you want to create your own yarn or ribbon dispenser, use a wooden dowel inside the cannister and slice a small slit in the lid for the ends of the material to protrude.

You can organize many things by recycling some of the common items around your home. Take a look at what you can repurpose and start designing your new crafting space.

               

Is Your Child Suffering From Depression?

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The happiness of your children is obviously going to be very important to you. No parent wants to think of their child suffering from depression, or anxiety. Yet, unfortunately, mental health issues are very common in children, and can easily slip under the radar and not get diagnosed. 

How Do Mental Health Issues Get Overlooked So Easily?

Very often, wider mental health issues can be disregarded as ‘a phase’. It can be blamed on the age of the child, or it may even get completely missed because your child may be an expert at hiding feelings from you that they are embarrassed about having or don’t fully understand. Some children are not able to articulate how they are feeling about something, and instead, their depression or anxiety can manifest in some other unwanted behaviours. 

What To Look Out For

There are many changes that may occur in your child if they are suffering from depression. Their appetite may change, and they may be eating a lot more, or much less, or even avoiding eating completely. You may have noticed that they don’t seem to be able to concentrate on things so well anymore. They might not be able to hold a full conversation and may seem distracted. There may be times when they seem irritable, or even lose their tempers, or change moods rapidly. 

Have a look at how they react to the things that they love doing. If they don’t seem so keen on their hobbies and interests, it may be a sign that they are struggling with some mental health issues. If they are hiding away from friends and spending less time around people in general, this can be a sign too.  

What Action Should You Take

Firstly, you need to understand that the way that they are acting is not something that they have control over. Avoid telling them to keep their chin up, or to get over it. Instead, let them know that you are there for them and that you understand them.

If you worry that they have a bigger problem, you may need to help them get the support that they need. This may come from a counsellor who specialises in supporting children, or your teenagers may need to look at mental health programs for young adults. Taking your child to visit your doctor will be useful in the first instance, as they can rule out any physical conditions that may be causing knock-on symptoms. 

Remember, Your Child Is Struggling

You will need to take on board the fact that your child is going through some complicated life issues. You will need to make sure you don’t come across as being negative about their condition, or acting as though they are a burden because of it. You certainly should not be nagging them or making them feel bad about suffering from depression. Try and find positive ways to engage with them, and be sure that they know that they have your support