On Monday, I started the second half of my Storytelling tour with my friend Catherine and our first day went really well.
But you know what else?
It was really tiring.
The kids were great and the teacher was great and the school was great, but there was a lot of energy going in all sorts of different directions today – just the nature of a busy school day – and it made it a little bit challenging for my slightly-sleepy ADHD brain to focus on my stories and on the work I was trying to do.
So, I had to use a lot of energy to concentrate and stay on task and, at the end of the day, I felt a bit jangled. Kind of scattered. A little bit at loose ends.
I know from previous experience that when I feel that way, it’s all too easy to lose the rest of the day to kind of aimlessly wandering from task to task in search of ways to settle my brain.
On Monday, though, I refused to lose my evening to that feeling. Instead, I decided to take action to find equilibrium, to gather my energy back to me.
I started with a good chat with Catherine about the interesting parts of the day and the things we especially enjoyed.
Then, while Catherine was out for a walk, I did some journalling and had some tea.
I followed that with meditation and deep breathing before heading out on my own solo walk (around Port Union, NL, in case you’re wondering)
And when I got back from my amble, I lay on the floor for a while in a restorative ‘legs up the wall’ yoga pose.
It all helped and I feel much more at ease.
And, sure, I may have felt better with just one or two of these things but I was enjoying the process so I decided to roll with it.
Do you know that scattered feeling I am referring to?
What process do you use to gather yourself in?