You know the one I’m talking about, the one that spins in the middle of the night, even though you want so badly to go back to bed! Or maybe it’s during the day, and you are trying to figure out an equation in your head (that’s me, the numbers girl, and that’s a doozy to get out of, especially if it also happens in the middle of the night). Well, I’m here to give you a few pointers, and they are soooo much easier than you think.
Here they are:
Write it down. If it’s the middle of the night, you need to get up, get a pen and paper and simply write it down. You will NOT be able to resolve the problem in your head at 3:00 in the morning. No one ever has, and no one ever will. Grab some paper and start writing your question, your concern, the equation going on in your head. It doesn’t matter if it’s the kids, the spouse, the office, or a project that’s wearing you out. Writing is the best way to get it out of your head so you can go back to bed!
Color in an adult coloring book. Yes, it’s true. Think back to when you were ten years old, and life was so fun and simple. I was given a gift of an adult coloring book last Christmas and I love it! When I’m unsure of a decision I am trying to make, or just plain bored, I open it up and pick a design, and color it. It makes me feel alive! Why? Because it gets me into my right brain, where my real creativity exists. That’s where we hold our solutions to problems when we are stuck. After all, if the solution was logical, it wouldn’t be stuck in your head, right?
Swing on the swing set. OMG I know what you’re thinking! Don’t you remember the absolute freedom you felt on the playground? When did we decide it wasn’t Ok for us to do it as adults? I happen to live by a playground and this is absolutely the best thing you can do to get out of a rut of ANY kind. It’s beautiful and freeing, and you will truly feel alive. By the way, you can do this anytime, not just when you are stressed! J
Hit the gym. No matter what shape you are in, or if you work out at all, get out of the house and get a workout in. Any workout will do, because you will focus on the task at hand, and your mind won’t be able to do both the workout and the stressing. Most importantly, your serotonin will increase, which makes you happy. I find this fills me with peace, and out of nowhere the solution to my problem comes through! The last time I did this, I tried a kickboxing class for the first time, and let me tell you – I was so sore I didn’t have any part of my brain that was thinking about the problem. That, my friend, is where the solution lies!
Run it by a friend. Now this is interesting because the friend doesn’t need to fully understand the issue. In other words, it’s SMALL things that get us stuck, not the big picture. If you run your problem by a close friend that knows you well, there is a strong chance that even in their own confusion, they will ask you a question that will fuel your own answer to your question. I normally do this out of desperation and then wish it had been my first choice. To put it another way, if you are stuck on a problem, then when you share it with another person, they will get stuck as well, only they will know WHY they are stuck and their input will be more valuable than you imagined.