Because it’s the little things that make life everything…
Little Things Blog Hop
Thanks, Elle Jacklee.
Hello! Welcome to the Little Things Blog Hop – I’m stop 79 of 117 (at last count). If you visit each one, you will find out about a lot of little things that make life worthwhile and have the opportunity to enter a lot of competitions including the huge rafflecopter giveaway with a US$50 Amazon gift card grand prize.
For those of you don’t know me, my name is Alexandria Blaelock and I am a writer and philosopher who encourages people to embrace things that matter like beauty, friendship and wisdom. I have written two personal development/lifestyle books describing how rational thought about activities like getting dressed and feeding your friends can lead to the kind of pleasure that makes life worthwhile.
And that is kind of the point of this post. It’s so easy to get caught up in your treadmill, just cycling round and round and never taking a break. The treadmill was originally a prison punishment in which prisoners would take long monotonous shifts “climbing” a paddle wheel, but today your treadmill is more likely to be mental. You have thousands of stray thoughts and activities you are trying to stay on top of, even though most of them don’t contribute to your wellbeing.
You may not be consciously aware of it, but the pressure (or stress) of all those things is building up inside you. Take a time-out now to notice how you feel. Is your heart thumping in your chest? Are breathing very fast? Perhaps you are tired and grumpy or can’t remember what it is you were going to do next. Or maybe you have just noticed that you have chewed your fingernails down to the quick.
While some stress is good for you (it gives you a bit of get up and go), prolonged excessive stress can be harmful. It is the kind of thing that continues to build pressure inside you if you don’t take action to dissipate it. You can use a variety of long-term methods such as physical exercise, meditation and yoga to keep it under control, but there are going to be times (e.g. public speaking) when you need a quick shot of anti-stress. Or a time-out.
Just as we all stress differently, we have different solutions when it comes to letting go of stress. My friend Katy takes five minutes to plan out step-by-step what she needs to do about a problem that is bothering her. Toseland on the other hand, will go into the stairwell at work and literally run up three or four flights. I like to close my eyes and imagine myself somewhere warm and sunny, and then I take a deep breath and hold it for the space of ten heartbeats before letting it rush out again. And maybe do it again if I need to.
What do you do? Share your favourite five-minute time-out in the comments below for a chance to win a signed copy of my book Build Your Signature Wardrobe.
Next stop on the blog hop is Iris Blobel, who writes romances set in Australia.
Thanks for “hopping” by!
UPDATE 20/4: The Little Things Blog Hop is over; the competitions have closed, winners been notified, and associated websites shut down (so I have removed the links).
My favorite 5 minute timeout is just loving on my grandkids. I call it baby therapy 🙂 If they aren’t around a long hot bath or getting lost in a book does wonders. Thanks for the giveaway and chance <3
I don’t have kids, but I LOVE a long hot bath too.
Entered the Raffel.. Your a new author to me.. Looking forward to checking out your books 🙂
Thanks, I hope you find them interesting.
My daughter’s laughter all I need to do is look at her
Thanks – perhaps I can borrow her sometimes 😉
Just a 30 minute break from reality is a wonderful little detail!
Especially if you have a stray patch of sunlight to spend it in!
jog
is there a terrain you prefer?
Is this open to US residents?
I’m going to answer with reading. 🙂
Open to all Daria. Are there particular books you like?
Thank you for the wonderful Blog Hop! I am so excited to find all you new authors and books!! I am so looking forward to checking out your books! A little inspiration goes a long way!
I’m sorry, I forgot. My 5 minute time-out… Just to be able to get outside and breathe the fresh air & clear my brain.
That’s a good one Kristina. It’s funny how fresh air gives you a new perspective isn’t it?
My 5 minute time out is doing mosaics. It relaxes me and lets me stop and breathe! Thank you for participating!
That’s an excellent idea – focus on something really small instead of everything else. Thanks for sharing Meg.
Thank you for being a part of the Hop !!!! This is awesome…..
You’re welcome – it is awesome!
My 5 minute time out is sitting at the coffee shop having coffee and a scone (I spend a lot of time at home being mom and it’s nice to get away for just me time)
I work for home, and sometimes getting out of the house is the best of all things isn’t it?
Thanks for the chance
My favorite 5 minute time out is just rocking out to some music!
Thank you for participating in this hop!
Thanks for visiting. I love a blast of loud music too.
Just five minutes alone in the bathroom would be great!
I can imagine!
I walk away to be alone and just think of positive things, like my grandchildren, that always relaxes me, puts a smile on my face, calms me down and then I can get back to what I was doing.
Thank you for the chance.
Thanks for sharing Tammy; I like alone time too.
Thanks for the giveaway! My 5 minute time out is playing with my two cats.
Mt friend Katy does the same Ruth, but I have dogs for that. Thanks for sharing.
Right now…I could just use a nap, in a corner, under the bed…it doesn’t matter!
I’m a big believer in naps myself!
I live just outside of Orlando so my time out is going to any body of water. No phone, no books come on no electronics, no music, just water. It resets me as long as I don’t get eaten by an alligator
Sounds wonderful Stephanie
My favorite time out is hanging with the furbabies!
Thank you for participating in this hop!
I couldn’t like this though!
Thanks so much Grace. My dog is right here next to me right now.
My Favorite 5 Min Time-Out is hiding in the bathroom with my kindle because it’s the only place I can go to hide from My Hubby and Kids
I don’t know if you need our emails but mine is iamabho (at) gmail.com
Thanks Linda. I can never seem to find as much time to read as I would like, so maybe I should do the same.
I love to fill the tub with bubbles have a good book and a glass of wine handy and soak
I could do with that right now!
Spend quality time with my sister
That’s lovely, thanks for sharing.
Cuddles with my kids and fur babies!!
Cuddles are always good!
Ty so much for being apart of the Little Things blog hop
Thanks for stopping by.
I have several different things I do. Sometimes I write or doodle, take slow steady breaths, and sometimes I scream (not at anyone just a scream).
Screaming sounds quite daring Christina, it must be very liberating
Listen to music or read
Thanks for the chance
Reading is a great pastime.