Chalkboard Conversations: The Never-Ending Day

Welcome to the Chalkboard Conversations - my take and opinions on things that I hope will help enrich your life, fill your cup, and bring life back to well life! 

You can check out the archive here! I hope you enjoy this break from our educational series.  

Chalkboard Conversations: The Never-Ending Day

In 1993, a wonderful and hilarious movie hit the theaters. (Ok, to be honest, many good movies came out that year: Robin Hood Men in Tights, Hocus Pocus, Mrs. Doubtfire just to name a few.) I am referring to the now iconic movie Groundhog Day. Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray) finds himself reliving the same day over and over again until he learns important lessons about himself and others. He starts the movie as a self-absorbed and selfish man and ends the movie as a caring man who takes an interest in his co-workers and the people in the town. I guess, like the Grinch, his heart grew two sizes? He repeats the day a minimum of 38 times; with some information hinting that he actually endured this day 414 times! 

Like Phil Connors, I too feel as if I am repeating the same day over and over again. Each morning I am woken up by a buzzing noise in my ear. I stumble out of bed to start the day. Lately, that has been a real challenge for me. You see, my daily chores and responsibilities have increased over the last few months, and I feel as if I start the day in the middle of a race rather than at the beginning. You might be wondering, why not wake up earlier so I feel less stressed? Well, it doesn't quite work that way for me. I have multiple medical conditions which affects my energy and stamina. If I wake up too early, I don't have enough energy to make it through the workday. If I get up at 7:00, I can get my initial chores done and be ok until anywhere from 3:00pm-5:00pm depending on the day. If I get up earlier, then I start to falter before 3:00pm- definitely not a good position to be in. My morning is about caring for others and getting myself ready for work. And my stress level is usually fairly high.

But, like Phil, as time passes, I do better. Medication, a good breakfast, and self-talk keep me going at a stressful job. Finally, I start to feel less stressed around 10:30am. I am usually fully awake by then and may even enjoy some of my work tasks. 

By 3pm, I am often tired or exhausted, but my mood is stable; especially if I remembered to have lunch and the sun is shining.  

By 7pm, work is over, dinner is done and many of my tasks for others have been completed. I can focus on the smaller, simpler tasks such as paying bills and laundry. 

By 9pm, I am done for the day. I can watch television, read a book, pet my dogs. I am physically tired, but my mood is good. I feel ok. Things are looking up and my stress level has subsided. I'm going to be okay. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

The next morning hits again and all the time and work I did the day before to alleviate my stress and depression has been for naught. I wake again with stress and anxiety. The process repeats itself. It is my own personal Groundhog Day.

You might be asking how a person who has a blog on thriving with depression can be faltering. Well, I
am stretched. No one can successfully do everything. Me included. 

So, what about the 3 thriving with depression steps I talk about in my Thriving with Depression series? Is it useless? Am I not taking my own advice?

No, it is not useless. It is how I went from being severely depressed to actually enjoying my life without my circumstances changing. Working full-time in the most stressful job of my career while dealing with chronic daily pain, multiple health issues and caring for my family was dragging me down. I used the 3 steps to help me not only make it through the day but to thrive and enjoy my day. 

So, what happened? I had additional responsibilities placed on me that I was not physically equipped to deal with. But life events happen. Initially I did well. A few months in and I was starting to drown. I felt as if I were in the middle of lake, keeping my head above water just enough to keep moving day by day.

I had to return to my 3 steps to take myself out of the depression and not wake up every day like it was Groundhog Day. 

To Recap the 3 steps are:

Step 1: Pick 1-2 areas in your life that cause the most stress. Each time you have a negative or stressful thought, you reframe your point of view by writing something you do like about your chosen area. 

Step 2: Read your positive thoughts out loud.

Step 3: When doing this process, add a scent you find pleasing in the background.

 

I am not where I want to be yet, but I can feel myself getting closer!