The future has several names. For the weak, it is impossible. For the fainthearted, it is unknown. For the thoughtful and valiant, it is ideal. - Victor Hugo
Some of the most thoughtful people I know are military spouses. No matter their current situation they always seem to have a smile on their face and a positive outlook. Do you know a military spouse like this?
When our spouses are deployed it is easy to begin to feel overwhelmed with everything that is on our shoulders. This is the perfect time to slow down. One might thing the opposite is true, hurry up to get more done. But by slowing down and enjoying the everyday moments of life and making time for friends, I discovered I actually enjoy the experiences of the day more and tend to feel less worn out. What about you?
Here are 5 ways to be more thoughtful and live in the moment. Doing so will help make your deployment experience much more enjoyable and memorable:
- Get a good 6-8 hours of sleep. By doing so you'll feel less tired throughout the day and less irritable. In order to give back, you'll need to be rested!!
- Slow down. I mentioned this before. Go over your to-do list and see what really needs to get done today. Are you overbooked? Get rid of the non-essential things!! Remember your time is precious!
- Make a phone call. Reading and commenting on Facebook is not the same as an in person conversation. Take 15 minutes to connect with a friend, laughing, telling stories and sharing the stress of the day will actually make YOU feel better even though you are calling to encourage them! Remember to be a good listener!
- Share what you enjoy. If you love to bake or cook, make an extra dish and share it with a neighbor or friend with that new baby or toddler keeping her up at night.
- Make a list. As I mentioned earlier, keep it simple. Only put on the list the 3-5 things you must get done today. Resist the urge to do other things. Check off each thing and you'll begin to feel a sense of accomplishment, even if on the list is just taking out the trash!! By getting the things done that are a priority for the day, you can take time to relax and enjoy the feeling of knowing you accomplished what you set out to do! Now with a clear mind go for a 30 min walk with a friend, plan a game night, invite a friend to lunch, plan a girls day out, volunteer at your church/school/FRG, etc.!
We'll talk more about this topic in the future, but I wanted to get the conversation started.
Looking for ways to celebrate and encourage those around you will ensure you are building friendships and making a difference. And when you are down, you'll have a strong support system to help build you back up. Remember we are all in this together!
Deployment Resources:
USAA's Deployment Guide - Deployment is never easy. Let us give you the information you need.
