Joyfilled Redhead

So...I've got two lists - one I've done, one I would like to do. Things I've done: 1) Get enough rest! If there's any chance of getting 8-9 hours of sleep, I take it. If I deal with insomnia, I try to wake up as late as I can to "make up for it" and not get sleep deprived...if neither of those work, a 5-20 minute nap helps! 2) Get in nature. Fresh air, the sound of a tiny waterfall, trees swaying in a gentle breeze, sunlight, light exercise (slow to moderate walking)...all of it. 3) Eat. Eggs, avocado toast, chocolate, nuts, salad. 4) Drink. Water, tea (green, raspberry, etc.), hot chocolate, kombucha. 5) Comfort! My favorite socks and/or slippers, a warm sweater, a weighted blanket, a longer hug, an encouraging word, calling a friend, candles, a video about my favorite animal(s), music to suit (or change) my mood, deep breathing, aromatherapy, humor...anything that'll uplift me a bit. 6) Read. I'd put it in #5, but books are too versatile to not be in their own category...so. Books of lists (I have a....few. Haha!), calming journals, a light mystery read...whatever floats my boat at the time. 7) Light! Sunlight, firelight, candles, low lighting, grow lights (opposite of all the softer lighting, but sometimes I just need that gentle "shock" of light). 8) The Word of God. Whether I find wisdom in a Proverb, comfort in a Psalm, "lists of how to live" (https://www.openbible.info/topics/how_we_should_live_our_lives, https://www.openbible.info/topics/how_god_wants_us_to_live, etc.), etc....His Word is sufficient for EVERYTHING. 9) Talk. With the Lord, with my family, with my friends...to myself...if not with my voice, then with my pen(...cil). It can help me process, learn, bounce ideas off others (or myself, if I'm having hypothetical conversations in my head/on the page), etc.! 10) Delegate what I can! Cleaning, cooking, child-care (for when I have kids)...if someone's offered to help, accept the offer graciously, humbly, and gratefully. They want to help, and I need it. No shame in asking for or accepting help! 11) Move. Walks, stretches, light(-ish?) to moderate pilates...dancing...movement helps physically, emotionally, mentally, and sometimes even spiritually! 12) Get something done! Accomplishing a task I want to accomplish can help...if that means I make a list and put "brush hair" on it just to strike it off, so be it. I think overall, everything narrows down to engaging my senses...Sight, sound, scent, taste, touch. And engaging my mind & body in general... Things I'd like to try: 1) Routine stretching 2) Journaling (more consistently..?) 3) Pranamat (Can anyone tell me more about this acupressure/acupuncture type thing?) 4) Meditation (primarily on God's Word) 5) Learning a new language (In the process!) 6) Cooking, baking, gardening, etc. (more often) 7) A blog (Oh, help me), freelancing (why is public writing intimidating to me?), pen pals...the overall thought being writing. 8) Take a few classes - dance, herbalism (all natural remedies!!), fancy cooking(??), sign language, etc. 9) Fermenting!! I think learning it would be a fun stress reducer, and taking care of myself would help! 10) "Detoxes". Social media, screens in general, junk food (hey, I like chips and salsa!), etc. 11) Habit tracking (food, water, sleep, dreams, etc.) 12) Budgeting, meal planning, etc. (I do, but I do so as a stay-at-home daughter soon to be stay-at-home wife...I'd like to "re-"start all these homemaking skills as a wife, and not in this in-between stage of life). 13) Volunteer (again)! Sometimes helping others helps me get my mind off my own never-ending list of things to do, worry about, etc. Overall, this one is more...varied? Still very self-care related, but also more about cutting things out, learning, and helping and/or providing for others. <3 (P.S., I'm keeping up on all your great ideas! ^_^)

Thanks so much!

Thanks! In that case, we tend to go for Mexican often (tomatoes, peppers, etc.), as well as...Italian, perhaps? That helps with figuring out what to prioritize gardening first - and what "core" ingredients to stock up on first, too! Thank you again!

Ooooh! That gave me ideas....we often have a jar of green onions on our "window sill" (that looks into the living room rather than outside), so I've been trying to think of mini hydro/aquaponic systems that I can inexpensively DIY...and looking for systems already set up too (my fiance is a fan of aerogardening - got a good deal from one of his brothers for Christmas or something, I think). Could you share more about sprouts?

Hello! No problem! We - my family, fiance, and I - are grateful too....what would you suggest we start out with? I've got a bit of sugar, rice, a few teas (that I've deemed quite necessary and have been graciously loved on by my mom........thanks for getting me tea, Ma!!), and flour...and more, but not much. Yes!! I prefer three, myself... Which is why we're attempting to find things more in bulk. Oof, yeah...I've looked at the prices lately, and they keep getting cringier (oh look, I made up a new word!) and cringier...budgeting is gonna get harder as time goes on. Thank you!! I look forward to listening to you ladies and gleaning wisdom from you all.

Aww, thank you!! I've been dipping my toes in every once in a while, but I finally remembered to actually sign up myself...and am so glad!

Me too!! I don't know if this sounds odd (or how odd it sounds), but I've always found prepping to be exciting. Once I'm married, I'll be just "up the road" too! I've always been interested in anything between canning, and water filtering, and budgeting, etc. I'm looking forward to this!

So....haven't read every comment here yet, but here's one of my "two cents". Mom and I get exhausted just thinking about gardening, however, my fiancé tells me gardening is therapeutic to him (PTSD & other things). Another "two cents" is that I do see it being weather related, as some of us acknowledge the place seasons have in our lives more than others (not sure who "others" are, if there even are any, but...exceptions). A good thing, but something to be aware of. We're still learning, but the rhythm that seems to work now is that the men (Dad & fiancé) work on planting, tilling, watering, etc., and the ladies (Mom and I) work on weeding, harvesting, canning, etc.

Hello, all....thank you for all the greetings! I'm excited to be here...^_^ Looking forward to learning from y'all!