Wazzup??!!

This post is brought to you by I Am Insane.  I think it is official.  I keep thinking we’re in “busy season” then I realize, they’re ALL busy.  But it’s all good as they say.

Ten Ways to Stay Sane While Rocketing Through a (Too Busy!) Day

1. Yoga.  Seriously, where would I be without yoga?  I have been going to this advanced-level class in Rancho Bernardo while the kids are at Sunday school.  It is always a physical challenge but the real difference is the mental work required.  I just found a second class each week (at Gold’s, so free included with my gym membership) and am contemplating a third class too.  I often have to bully myself into going to class, but always am happy afterward that I went.
2. Vitamin D (and all the Bs, and C.)  Women!  And men, and kids, too.  But mostly women.  Check your D levels. This is going to be the next big thing.  If you are low, the fastest way to raise them is with Biotics liquid supplement.  I seriously raised my D levels to within the reference range in just a few weeks with one drop of this daily.  Now I’m taking one drop two times a week to maintain.  Add in a monthly B12 shot and the B vitamins plus C that I get from drinking EmergenC and True Lemon and I am golden.  Gotta stay strong during cold and flu season!
3. Great books.  Not “Great Books” as in the canon of Western literature.  No, I mean fun books.  I never want to be caught without something to read for those quick stolen moments of downtime.  When I’m in a phase of busy-ness I tend to have awkward blocks of time that are maybe 10-15 minutes long scattered throughout my day.  Check out blogger Jen Lancaster’s new novel (set in the ’80s!), There I Go Again.
4. Bring a snack.  Some of my favorites are a banana and some pumpkin seeds (I like Eden Foods brand), cashews or almonds and golden raisins, a string cheese, or peanut or almond butter on Ezekiel bread.  I also recently rediscovered Lara Bars.  (NOT Luna Bars which are not the same thing at all.)  Lara Bars have a great short ingredient list filled with lots of good stuff.
5. Keep your tank full.  Literally!  We talk a lot about “filling our tanks,” but I am talking about literally going to the gas station when your car hits the halfway mark.  Don’t be Kramer trying to see how far below the red line your car will go before you run out of gas.  And you know the day you actually do run out will be the day you ran out of the house in pjs and slippers to run the kids to school. Don’t tempt fate.
6. Stock the gift cupboard.  If you see something  great for a good price, buy three.  Seriously.  Two winters ago Costco had these great Crayola art tubs packed with all kinds of goodies. I bought a bunch of them.  They were the perfect unisex kiddie birthday gift for a broad range of ages.  It’s cheaper and easier to have good gifts on hand than to run out each time you remember your kid has a birthday party to attend.
7. Write it down.  Seriously!  Where would I be without my Franklin planner?  I am running around like a chicken without my head but when I forget the Girl Scout cookie money ATM card in the machine, at least I can write down, “Pick up ATM card” in my planner and actually remember to do it.
8. Get completely dressed plus makeup, jewelry, hair, etc in the morning.  Don’t tell yourself some beautiful lie like, “I’ll shower and get ready after I quickly run out to do XYZ first thing in the morning.”  That’s how it gets to be 7 p.m. and you realize you’re still in sweats and chewed a piece of mint gum in lieu of brushing your teeth.  Not the best “head space” to be in.
9. Sleep!  Sleep!!!  Sleep is such a beautiful gift.  I have been  choosing a night or two each week to toddle off to bed at some crazy early hour (like earlier than my six year old!) and it’s fantastic.  I bring a book so I don’t feel deprived, and yet most of those special nights, I am asleep in time to get a solid ten or eleven hours and still be up before everyone else.
10. Friends and family.  Chances are 99% of what is keeping you busy is for them, so give them a hug and kiss.  Tell them you love them.  Share a laugh together and remember what it’s all about.