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What’s Keeping Me Sane (2019 Edition)
It is so easy to look at life and see what is driving us crazy or what needs to be fixed. Today I am taking a step back and looking at what is keeping me sane right now. This is my third year in joining Anne at Modern Ms. Darcy as she encourages others to share what is keeping them sane as the cold weather lingers on. In some ways, I am an anomaly because I live in a country where the temperature is pretty much the same every day. But no matter where you live or the temperature on your thermometer, it is a good practice to look for ways to make life better or to make life more doable and enjoyable.
January flew by for me as I spent extra hours in the classroom trying to stay ahead of my students. My evenings were full of conversations about future transitions for my daughter and also on our team. In the midst of everything, I found that my routine was saving me. It was grounding me when other parts of life seemed crazy.
So what is keeping me sane?
1. Time in God’s Word
With school starting earlier, I have to wake up earlier to fit this time in. I am finding that it has been so worth it. My mornings are either spent listening to an online lecture for a bible class I am taking or sitting in my chair digging into Jeremiah or the Psalms. Jeremiah is for those days when I am up for serious study. Psalms is for the days I need to be reminded of how to pray and voice my needs to God. When I am in right relationship with God, I am anchored and more secure in who I am and who God has called me to be. It helps me not take it personally when my students misbehave. It also makes me less needy and better equipped to give to those around me.
2. Prep, Prep and More Prep
Remember the extra hours in the school room? They are worth it. When I have everything planned out for the next day including centers set up and papers laid out ready to go, our school day goes much better. When I had just two little ones, I was able to just go with the flow. With four little ones, go with the flow is not an option. I am enjoying my afternoons in the classroom after the students have left as I listen to music, gather supplies for crafts, and set up the activities for the next day.
3. Evening Walks with My Honey
Our evening walks bring good closure to my day. We live right next to the beach. As we walk, we see the waves crash against the shore. Most days as the breeze flows off the water, I feel like the stress of the day rolls off of me. Breathe in. Breathe out. We walk. We talk. We enjoy God’s creation. (Plus I have been getting in my 10,000 steps more often.)
4. Soup on Mondays
When we first moved here, I didn’t make soup often because the weather is warmer. Then all of a sudden, I started adding soup to the menu every now and then. Then I figured out if I made soup on Monday night that I would have great left overs to share with my house lady on Tuesday when she cleans for me. Since rice is a staple here, I often will add some rice to the soup if I don’t have as much left overs. Since I only have an hour for lunch, soup is pretty simple to heat up and always has more then enough to share.
Here are a few links to some of my favorite soups I have tried.
What is keeping you sane whether you are battling cold weather, a crazy schedule, or just life? I would love for you to share in the comments. If you are interested in similar posts to this one. Here are the links for 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Blessings, TJ
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oh those evening walks.
now THERE'S a choice that speaks life to body, mind, and relationship.
loved that sanity saver, TJ!