Monday, October 15, 2007

Therapy: What works for you?

We all need a break from our schedule. 30 minutes is good enough. Back when I was a in early teens in school, I used to love playing sports. I have played most of the games but was in school team for Throw ball(I guess this is played only in India) and Volleyball. Playing was a therapy for me when I needed some relaxation from studies, which never seemed to end.

As I grew up, I don't remember what particularly used to relax me. Good music, a good book, a good movie , a good chat with a friend - all depending on what the space and time permits. Then I realised my love for driving. It used to soothe me. I did not even need music in my car. A nice drive along quiet neighborhood/countryside was good enough for me. Of course, a good music was like icing on the cake.

Speaking of cake, I love cakes and chocolates and cookies. In fact, even now I need to have a cookie when I drink tea. I tried hard in cutting down on all these for health reasons. I am reasonably successful in cakes and chocolates. But I gave it up on restricting cookie intake. After all, if one is not able to enjoy small pleasures of life, what's the fun? I recently read the book - "Chocolatherapy: Satisfying the Deepest Cravings of Your Inner Chick ". I realised that even though I really crave for all these nice , fattening stuff, they are not my therapy.

I am not a shopaholic either. My shopping spree is generally over in 30 minutes. I go to a mall/shop, look around for what I want and if I like something and price is within my capacity, I am done. Unlike others, I never used to consider shopping as a therapy for me. Well, that is till recently. In the past couple of months, whenever my work has got overwhelming and I needed a small break, I have gone and shopped for clothes for myself. Though it has just been 3 times, it has done wonders to me. I am happy about my new clothes and am rejuvenated and back in action to complete my task. I can say the same for blogging. Whenever I post something, my spirits are high and I am ecstatic. Maybe, now it is time for some tea and cookies.

14 comments:

aMus said...

i second you on that...a new speck on the blogosphere, i'm now completely addicted to it...I still enjoy reading but having some time alone to myself is the ultimate soother :)

Sumana said...

Little things that give us pleasure and raises our spirits. A nice hot small sip of masala chai gives me a wakening.

Jaya said...

Thinking Aloud: Thanks for stopping by. Since you are a mom of two kids, time for yourself must be very rare and precious.

Sumana: True. So does a comment in my post. Thanks :)

Hip Grandma said...

I felt that I was an odd person for not liking to shop until absolutely essential.Glad to find an ally in you.

Jaya said...

HHG: According to my hubbs, I feel lot of stuff are essential :)

Madhu said...

i agree jaya, we all need small breaks..i always go on shopping spree when i am low..going to a music store, book store boosts up my morale :)

Now that u like blogging, its great for us :)

dame's diary said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
dame's diary said...

Singing works for me!!

(Nope I am not a trained singer!)
:)

Archana Bahuguna said...

bathroom singing, cooking, going for a beautiful drive, watching a nice movie, chai and zzz...

Sairekha said...

I so agree... blogging (a decent post), a drive, shopping (of yes), strangely even in a large supermarket, and a hot cuppa coffee or chai sitting by the window or the balcony watching the remnant greenery in the concrete jungle is good enuff..:)I also rediscovered the ipod on max with closed eyes in a crowded local!!:) Umm.. I think I'm stressed!!:)

Prats said...

destressing gives me more stress than anything...Wondered all along how to get a solution, then found that I found simple pleasures in veggie shopping, can u believe it....methinks i'm going nutty. Tried the mall rat bit too...but never gotten bitten....and yeah...blogging has gotten to me...with a cuppa chai and many times books dat have no meaning at all

Jaya said...

Madhu: Good music or good book can do wonders.

DD: Oh C'mon, I knew all along that you are very talented - an artistic house, beautiful posts, singing. Waiting for the next hidden talent to surface up :)

Arc: How about bedroom dancing? You know I joined the club of bedroom dancers in orkut - These are ppl who, when alone at home dance to a nice music :)

Ziah: I guess even a calm person might get stressed in Bombay Local trains :)

Prats: Welcome here! Wow , veggie shopping is cool. You get two things at the same shot - destressed + groceries :) I can understand Movies without meaning but Book without a meaning hmm, wonder how would that be ?

Prats said...

Books without a meaning :)....tried the mills and boon....and some of those celeb mags??...I never remember what i've read even before I close the book..But it helps to destress

Jaya said...

Prats, I used to close M&B as soon as I used to open it :)

To evolve or not...