When Andrew is trying to put his shoes on and he is not quite getting it I tell him, "keep trying!" and he replies, "I'm keeping trying!"
Well I keep trying to have a better attitude about summer and I'm still daily fighting irritability and crabbiness, but, as Andrew says, I'm keeping trying!
Yesterday I called an expert for advice. Firefly lives in California and in her area the temperature regularly exceeds 100. Not only that, she does not have an air conditioner. And yet, her complaints about summer are few and far between.
These were her tips:
1. Get up early. Get your stuff done in the morning and plan to do restful things during the heat of the day.
2. For a quick cool down, put cold water in your bathtub and soak your feet and hands in it for a few minutes.
3. Be hot. When you are feeling sweaty and gross, go with it. Pretend you are at the beach. Wear clothes that you don't mind getting sweaty. Get in sweaty mode.
Her first tip made the most sense as a starting place for me. Often I get irritable when I feel like I am not getting anything done. If I can get up early, get things done while it is not too hot and while everyone else is sleeping, that just might improve my whole day! Then, during quiet time, instead of doing a project, I'll rest and read to make up for getting up early. That's the idea anyway.
So, this morning I got myself out of bed at 5. I made some tea, did some baking and sewing. I put in almost 3 hours before the kids got up (they are delightfully late sleepers). When they got up, I was not bleary. I was jazzed and feeling productive and I was ready to meet their needs since so many of mine were already met!
I'm curious to see if I have a mid afternoon crash. And what time I'll need to go to bed tonight. And if I'll be able to swing this again tomorrow. But, I have to say, so far so AWESOME!!!
8 comments:
Tess woke up at 4am this morning ready to play! Did you talk to her about your summer strategies? If so, I would like to ask that you have another chat with her. ;)
I would love a cookie for my afternoon slump!
when it's so hot, do you still bake? I can't wait to hear how your day went!
Nice! Atticus used to wake up at 4:30 or 5 (for most of his life, actually), which made it hard to get up, but I got used to having so much time to get things done before we even did a morning activitiy!
I find, too, that being in hot sweaty mode helps. Trying to look pretty makes me crankier about the heat.
I like getting my exercise in as early as possible in the summer.
You make me want to get up really early tomorrow. Sometimes I'm even tempted to get up when Chris does at 2:15, but that's just crazy.
I seriously do not understand how Chris does it. 2:15 would be crazy. Though, if you normally get up at 5, then maybe my 5 is your 2:15! ek. Poor you!!
Cat- I do! I still bake. And this summer I think I might be a little crazy. I try to bake on cooler days, but sometimes, even when its hot, I fire up the oven, turn on my fan and go for it. ;) hard core.
You had tea? Tara's tip: put lots of ice in it.
those cookies look DEE-VINE. :)
I'm right there with you, Robyn. I dislike this heat so much and have come up with a few coping strategies of my own -- I even made a list to consult when I'm at the end of my rope -- so I don't even have to think.
This is so great! That Marti is one wise friend!
I like her #2 and #3 as well. Taking cold rinse showers in the middle of the day and before bed is a big swarmy-day strategy in our house. And it's so true that just embracing the dripping sweat really helps me, unless like Melissa I have to wear a dress and/or make-up and want to look half-way decent.
Let us know how it goes!
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