A Happy Box
I’m trying to work myself up to being a dedicated student again (honest, I am). Playing catch up with my course has been hard and I will confess to not feeling secure in striving to find the balance. I also seem to have had to write off study time at home. There is one main reason for this – I’m sharing my study space with my son. How can I put it, he chats about everything and anything he likes to use this time to catch up with me. Actually I know I’m blessed that my son enjoys sharing his world with me, but it does nothing for my concentration.
This surprised me. You see I’m used to working in open plan offices with everything going on around about me. I have, over the years, perfected the art of being able to ignore the chaos around me and this oblivion allows me to easily be fully engrossed in my work.
Jacqueline wondered why it was so quiet at work today
Not so with my study space. Strange, isn’t it? Maybe not so much, I like to listen to what my son has to say. This also provides me with the opportunity to offer my share of support, which I hope helps him cope with his own challenges in this life. It just ain’t helping my study progress. I have no solution to this as yet, but I’m sure one will come along.
Capitalising on the wonderful Scottish winter's Jacqueline's new study space was just grand - now all she had to do was find the heating switch.
So yes I do feel anxious of ‘study me’ present in my life and sometimes this makes me feel a strange mix of anxiety and exhaustion.
One of the things I’ve been ploughing through recently has been research relating to the impact mental health on society. My particular area of interest, for obvious reasons, is how being a carer can impact on the health and well-being. There are oodles of information in this field and I’ve dutifully selected the information I feel have relevant to my next assignment. In the process however I came across something that I thought was pretty sweet.
Carers were asked to provide tips on beating low mood and one jumped out at me. Create a happy box. A happy box contain things you love and if the low mood monster seizes you it is suggested (amongst other things) that you take time out, open your box and enjoy the contents. You decide what’s in your box. It got me thinking what would be in my Happy Box?
A bar of Galaxy Chocolate
Scottish Music
A recording of Jimmy Shand. Yes I really do love this stuff – and not just because I’m Scottish – for me anyway it is impossible not to feel better after listening to a jig, polka, waltz – but the Dashing White Sergeant is my favourite (hey and I’m pretty good at the dance too!)
A bottle of Clinique Elixir perfume – my perfume of choice and I love it.
My Running Shoes - I know that if I run I feel better, exhausted granted, but always better.
A Note to Myself - reminding me that I can only do what I can do and tomorrow is another day. A cliché I know, but true – always!
Laughter Therapy - An oldie but a goodie. I dare you not to smile and feel better when you watch this….
So what would be in your happy box?
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I love this idea! I used to keep a “kudo” folder at work where I kept all the nice things people said in one spot. Whenever I felt down, I’d just pop it open as a reminder that not all days are like the current one and that people at work do value me. I haven’t done that in awhile and I sense I need to restart this practice, but now I want to go a step further and have a physical Happy Box at home (along with a mental one).
The work folder is a great idea. I might try that. Of course you do realise that now I’ve confessed that I have chocolate in my happy box that my stash can ALWAYS be discovered
Thanks for stopping by.
I love the idea of a happy box. I’m not sure what would be in it, but I would like to keep some sausages if there was a way of keeping them fresh. They always give me a nice feeling when I eat them. silly I know
I’m with you on that one. Real comfort food (but for me they would have to come with mashed potatoes)
I need to put in lots of family photograps so that my happiness would come from the memories they would bring.
I’m sure you could manage to squeeze a little bit of chocolate in there too, or maybe even one of those lovely Christmas cakes you bake?
Wow. Lovely thought – what would I keep in my happy box….
Bach – not all of his music, obviously, but ‘Sheep may safely graze’ at the very least – the organ arrangement, not the choral
Wind in the Willows – the literary answer to anti-depressants – and Bleak House. Or perhaps Nicholas Nickleby. Can’t decide which of those two.
Advocado pears and balsamic vinegar
Good ground coffee and a cafetiere mug
The print that hangs above my mantle shelf by John Piper. I love it – I can sit and look at it for hours. And, my mosaic of an angel made by a local artist. Again, something that takes me into another dimension.
And, my mother. Wouldn’t need too big a box, she’s very small.
I like the idea of the avocado and balsamic vinegar – I’m going to try this at the weekend, sounds scrummy. Interesting box, thanks for stopping by.
So many things would be in my “Happy Box” that I would have to have a “Happy Storage Shed!” Great post and wonderful reminder to stay positive!
A Happy Storage Shed sounds even better!
I don’t know whether it would be feasible for you, but I had three young children when I went back to the university to get my teacher’s certificate. I had to stay in the school library to do my work. Failing to get it all done there, I had to wait till the children went to bed. Not an easy schedule but I had no choice.
I love the idea of a happy box. I’m going to give it some thought. Thanks for the idea.
Thanks for sharing your suggestion/experience. I do try to schedule time at work (either at lunch) or staying on a bit to get some study things dealt with, but in all honesty my only real option is to work at home. I’m working on a solution to this though and I think this week should see some light at the end of the tunnel hopefully.
My happy box…hmmm never had this idea before. I think chocolate for sure, one flower (I guess a dried flower is better) for my spirit ( I read once that in the 1000 and one night, sorry not sure of the english translation it is written that if you have to coins you must use one to buy food for yourself and the other to buy flowers for your spirit) and for sure one book. or a piece of paper and a pencil…just not to forget a photo of my wife…yes I need that !
robert
I am juggling this week too – and finding it hard. Next week WILL be better! The blog went by-the-by this week because of it.
I get the silent study space bit – was trying to explain this earlier to my mother – who just doesn’t get it at ll.
Hey PhD – positivity, I like it. Next week WILL be better hopefully for me too. I guess with the silent study place you only really ‘get it’ if you’ve experienced the joy of it. Good luck for next week.
‘A flower for your spirit’ – what a lovely thought. Your happy box sounds much cooler than mine. Thanks for stopping by.
I loved this post Jacqueline – so positive and uplifting. Great video clips. I have a happy box in which I keep a few poems, cards, photos. I have dried flowers from our son’s wedding in there too. I found some nice boxes on a market stall in York – they included a little list of things included such as a marble in case you start losing them, a coin in case youm become poor, an elastic band in case you need stretching. I can’t remember exactly but you’ve given me an idea for my blog, so I’ll dig it out and put it on there.
Take care and keep positive. You’re doing a great job!
Sue xx
Thank you Sue. I like the idea of putting marbles in there. I look forward to reading your post.