Last week was our first week in our new teaching job and also our first time experiencing discrimination and harassment at work, or anywhere! I have gone into stress overload with it. :/ To help Dizzy and her friends have come up with some ways of helping to manage stress (and are planning an outing to go and nibble through all the text books at school in some sort of donkey rampage… 🙂 )

Dizzy’s 7 simple ways to help manage stressful situations:

  1. Mindfulness – Dizzy’s been using incense sticks to focus on. She also likes the smell of these ‘Fairy Dreams’ ones. 🙂

dizzythedonkey mindful

2. Take 5 – Me and Dizzy take a nap. 🙂

IMG_2376

3. Exercise – Dizzy and her friends were taking their exercise very seriously this morning. They started of with research! …but that’s all they seemed to do…I didn’t actually see any exercising going on after the research….

dizzythedonkey exercise

4. Relax – Me and Dizzy recently bought a wheat bag which we really love and helps to make us feel calmer about things. 🙂

dizzythedonkey relax

5. Accepting things you can’t change – Dizzy’s having to accept today that there’s no more ginger biscuits (because she’s eaten them all) and we can’t get anymore till tomorrow now.

dizzythedonkey life

6. Laughter – They love this one! 🙂

dizzythedonkey laugh

7. Talking – I think talking always helps. Dizzy and her friends always seem to feel better after a little natter.

dizzythedonkey talking

These are the one’s Dizzy has come up with and I think they’re pretty good! We’d also love to know what works best for you in stressful situations so Dizzy can add them to her list. 🙂 xxx

 

64 Replies to “Dizzy’s simple tips for stressful situations”

  1. Oh my. Unfortunately, I have almost always dealt with discrimination and harassment, even before this – woman, interfaith, interracial. I am one of the first women at an all boys uni, was the only woman in management at a menswear firm and then have worked in IT. I have a very thick skin. That being said, one of the reasons I am not working where I had been for over a decade was that new management took away my reasonable accomodation. My attorney told them it was the only time she had seen that done. Now, in addition to all the above, I have to add ageism. Of course, most of my able bodied friends are facing the same.
    Chocolate, bubble bath, trashy novel and laughs ease the pain. The older I get the more outspoken too “Gee, I wish I could work from home Fridays like you do.” “It’s a deal. You walk like me and I walk like you and I’ll be in on Fridays.” “oh” End of coversation.
    Be stronger than you already are.

    1. That must have been really hard but they sound like amazing achievements. You should be really proud of them! 🙂 Even if they did unfortunately come with discrimination and harassment. 🙁 That’s terrible with your reasonable accommodation. Are they even allowed to do that?
      I think being more outspoken is a good thing. I wish I was. 🙂 Your comment has made me think it will be bubble bath, followed by reading and munching on chocolate night, 🙂
      Thank you so much for your message. 🙂 xxx

  2. Remind Dizzy that the verbal abuse and upsets say more about the people that say these things than they do about Dizzy. Dizzy has to rise above them for Dizzy is better and greater than this. Oh … and smile. A smile lets people know that they haven’t won. Because they haven’t. Dizzy has.

          1. I’m so relieved. Please don’t allow anyone to ever make you feel less than you are. For you are an incredible person, and you have lots to offer and give to the world.
            Sending good wishes and feel good vibes.
            Have a blessed rest of you day, and a truly wonderful week. ~ Cobs. x

    1. i love the reminder that the other people are the problem; but it is incredibly hard when you are the target of unfairness. i am so sorry you went through this. it must have been a terrible shock. i hope that with time and all the tools you are better able to distance yourself from it. hang in there! and LOVE your blog

      1. Thank you. I think that has been a big part of it because it started on my very first day! Just seemed unbelievable but getting advice now so feeling abit better now I know my options. It is really important to remember that it is other peoples problems and how they behave says alot more about them, it’s just hard to remember sometimes. And thank you. 🙂 xxx

  3. That’s ridiculous about the harassment and discrimination. I’m glad you have Dizzy to fall back on. I need one of those wheat bags because I have tension in my neck a lot. I hope that things get better for you two.

    1. Thats where I get mine aswell. I tense round my shoulders and neck to a point where I get constant pain at the top of my neck! The wheat bag does help though. It has scotty dogs on it too so just looking at it makes us feel less stressed. 🙂 xxx

  4. So sorry you had such a horrible time. So awful you had to deal with that on top of what was already going to be a tough week for you ☹️ Hope you get things sorted. What a lovely post to have written despite everything you must have been through. It really made me smile – and chuckle over the ginger biscuits and exercise! Stay strong xxx

    1. Thank you, me too. I’ve got advice now so feeling abit more stable now I know my position and options available to me. Hopefully it will all be resolved soon. Dizzy has her ginger biscuits again so she’s been happily munching away today! 🙂 xxx

  5. Excellent post! Keeping things in perspective vs being lost in the moment is a challenging task, but who better up for it than a chronic illness warrior. I ask myself if it’ll matter in a year or even next month, if not gotta let it roll off my back. It’s not easy but it’s crucial for our continued health. Stress is one of our worst enemies. I read recently that when you’re dealing with an upsetting comment look at why it’s upsetting you, what can you learn from it…like I learned that person is a meanie-face…and how can change your upset. When we do that we kind of take back our control and learn boundaries for ourselves. Seems great in theory. Wishing you a better week this week!🌸

    1. That’s so good to remember. I remember someone saying to think ‘will this matter in 5 years’ and really most things won’t! I keep trying to remind myself of that so thank you. I love meanie-face. 🙂 I may start thinking that when dealing with this situation. 🙂 Hope you’re having a good week. xxx

    1. She was! She’s been happily munching all day although I am thinking she might be complaining she’s run out of them again in a minute. 🙂 And thank you, we’re really glad you liked our post. 🙂 xxx

    1. Thank you. We have spoken to the union today so feeling abit better now we properly know our options. 🙂 Hopefully it will all sort out soon. Hope you’re ok. We’re still enjoying your book but this has sort of taking over everything so we haven’t been able to read as much as we would have liked yet. xxx

  6. also, at my work i have given nick names to the people who are the hardest to deal with. having those helps me put these people in their place (in my mind) in a way that allows me to keep my job. Also, a short mantra is a good thing. And a talisman that you can take to work with you. Lastly, remember if they cross legal lines you should stick up for yourself.

  7. Stress is such a downer! If you’re like me, you keep mulling over the unpleasant events or encounters with rude people. So try not to do that. Dizzy and her friends are so charming! Sending positive thoughts your way with hopes that everything smooths out and you are treated with the respect you deserve. 💛

    1. I don’t know why but I’ve only just seen your comment! I’m the same and I also sit and worry about what will happen. Thank you for your lovely comments, we are doing abit better with it all now. 🙂 xxx

  8. I’m shocked you and Dizzy had to deal with harassment at work! Some people just refuse to acknowledge that others have difficulties.
    Dizzy’s idea are very hood and I totally agree with chocolate and bubble baths. I also watch a comedy movie after a stressful day.
    And being outspoken really does help. I have little cars that read “I see you have my parking space. Would you like my disability, too?”

    1. Me and Dizzy have been shocked too! Just not the sort of environment we’ve ever found ourselves working in and we are really trying our best. :/
      I like to watch a comedy film after a stressful day too. Get tucked up into bed early and put one on. I love your little cars!! 🙂 xxx

  9. ‘Rhyming Wave’
    CONSOLE ME

    words, others, my own, to console me
    to console, console, console me
    the solace I seek, to be free
    the pain in my heart, wrong

    to live my life, all restraints gone
    all restraints, restraints, restraints, gone
    now my will to live very strong
    now my life so happy

    words, others, my own, to console me
    now my life so happy
    © Mick E Talbot 2017/66

    Thanks to you and Dizzy for your advice, and the inspiration to write how I sometimes react to stress!
    Take care, best wishes,
    Mick

  10. Wonderful ways to help cope with stress, Dizzy! I’m sorry you don’t have an endless supply of ginger nut biscuits, but taking a nap, having a few giggles, talking with others and getting a little exercise are great when you run out 😉
    I also find some distraction with a good book or a TV series can help calm and ground me a little, get me away from the ‘stuff’ that’s going on. Music can be good for the soul too.
    Fab post as always Heather  ♥
    Caz xx

    1. I find those great aswell. Especially happy, silly TV series, where it’s all nice and lighthearted. x And Dizzy finds it very hard to understand when she’s eaten all the ginger nut biscuits, but at least taking a nap and exercise is a good way of taking her mind of it for a little while, till we can get to the shop anyway. 🙂 xx Hope you’re having a lovely weekend Caz. 🙂 xxx

Let us know your thoughts, they always make for a very happy Dizzy :)