“Where me go today Mummy?” pipes up Elly
“Juju’s sweetie” I tentatively respond
“Waaaahhh, no Juju’s, I go Happy Bunnies” followed by smacking Bella, the dog.
So we do the usual, explaining that she can’t smack the dog as it’s unkind and Bella won’t want to be her friend, so she must apologise but with no joy. So then I made the all mighty mistake of saying that if she didn’t say sorry to the dog, she would be going nowhere - Big mistake, and the stand off began. She starts with the usual shouting, and builds to the full blown rugby tackle as I try to usher Isla, Poppy & Bella, 6 bags, 3 water bottles and PE kit out the door.
We continue on the drive - in the car, out the car, back in the car etc, until we are standing eye to eye by the boot of the car with the dogs staring bewildered.
“You can not come until you say sorry to the dog” I bark. And break through at last comes.
“Sorry Bella, I love you” whispers Elly
“Bella says thats ok, she forgives you, but hopes you won’t do it again as it hurt her bottom” I reply. At which point, I come to realise that we are not alone. I turn around to see half a dozen builders staring in disbelieve at me over my neighbours fence. So, finally we set off in the car, 10 minutes late to school, with me bright pink in the face and feel not at all smug, whilst Elly smiles sweetly at me through the rear view mirror.
Now obviously this was not the start to the day I had planned. For those that know me, I can be a little, what shall we say, fiery? What I needed was a quick way to calm down and carry on with the rest of my Monday without getting all het up. And here is what I found - some simple quick ways to de-stress.
5 Researched Ways To De-Stress On The Go
Listen to music
Putting on track that you love will help you feel good, as it helps the brain release feel good hormones such as dopamine. Classical music, in particular, is proven to lower your hear rate, blood pressure and reduce stress levels
Breathe deeply
Breathing deeply gets extra oxygen into the body, helping to reduce tension and relieve stress. Whilst shallow breathing taps into the sympathetic nervous system, deep breathing stimulates the parasympathetic system, relieving stress
Grab a banana
Bananas are full of potassium which helps regulate blood pressure and calm you down. In fact, research has shown that it can also protect against the long term side effects of stress, such as a heart attack or a stroke
Visualise
If you are able to, slipping off to an imaginary calm place will help you relax. Whether it be lying on the beach, walking in the woods or relaxing with friends, even just thinking about it can bring on the feeling of calm
Kisses
Kissing releases endorphins, which are known as your happy hormones. Whether it be your partner or your kids, having a cuddle and kiss will help you feel better