Take a Little Time-out for Yourself

Because it’s the little things that make life everything…

Little Things Blog Hop

Thanks, Elle Jacklee.

Hello! Welcome to the Little Things Blog Hop – I’m stop 79 of 117 (at last count). If you visit each one, you will find out about a lot of little things that make life worthwhile and have the opportunity to enter a lot of competitions including the huge rafflecopter giveaway with a US$50 Amazon gift card grand prize.

For those of you don’t know me, my name is Alexandria Blaelock and I am a writer and philosopher who encourages people to embrace things that matter like beauty, friendship and wisdom. I have written two personal development/lifestyle books describing how rational thought about activities like getting dressed and feeding your friends can lead to the kind of pleasure that makes life worthwhile.

And that is kind of the point of this post. It’s so easy to get caught up in your treadmill, just cycling round and round and never taking a break. The treadmill was originally a prison punishment in which prisoners would take long monotonous shifts “climbing” a paddle wheel, but today your treadmill is more likely to be mental. You have thousands of stray thoughts and activities you are trying to stay on top of, even though most of them don’t contribute to your wellbeing.

You may not be consciously aware of it, but the pressure (or stress) of all those things is building up inside you. Take a time-out now to notice how you feel. Is your heart thumping in your chest? Are breathing very fast? Perhaps you are tired and grumpy or can’t remember what it is you were going to do next. Or maybe you have just noticed that you have chewed your fingernails down to the quick.

While some stress is good for you (it gives you a bit of get up and go), prolonged excessive stress can be harmful. It is the kind of thing that continues to build pressure inside you if you don’t take action to dissipate it. You can use a variety of long-term methods such as physical exercise, meditation and yoga to keep it under control, but there are going to be times (e.g. public speaking) when you need a quick shot of anti-stress. Or a time-out.

Just as we all stress differently, we have different solutions when it comes to letting go of stress. My friend Katy takes five minutes to plan out step-by-step what she needs to do about a problem that is bothering her. Toseland on the other hand, will go into the stairwell at work and literally run up three or four flights. I like to close my eyes and imagine myself somewhere warm and sunny, and then I take a deep breath and hold it for the space of ten heartbeats before letting it rush out again. And maybe do it again if I need to.

What do you do? Share your favourite five-minute time-out in the comments below for a chance to win a signed copy of my book Build Your Signature Wardrobe.

Next stop on the blog hop is Iris Blobel, who writes romances set in Australia.

Thanks for “hopping” by!

UPDATE 20/4: The Little Things Blog Hop is over; the competitions have closed, winners been notified, and associated websites shut down (so I have removed the links).

17th March 2016

If I amused, entertained, or informed you today, feel free to leave me a small gift. Click paypal.me/alexandriablaelock to go to PayPal.

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51 Comments

  1. lmccullough68

    My favorite 5 minute timeout is just loving on my grandkids. I call it baby therapy 🙂 If they aren’t around a long hot bath or getting lost in a book does wonders. Thanks for the giveaway and chance <3

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      I don’t have kids, but I LOVE a long hot bath too.

      Reply
  2. Beth Ann Miller PA

    Entered the Raffel.. Your a new author to me.. Looking forward to checking out your books 🙂

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      Thanks, I hope you find them interesting.

      Reply
  3. amartinez87

    My daughter’s laughter all I need to do is look at her

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      Thanks – perhaps I can borrow her sometimes 😉

      Reply
  4. Jessica Byrd

    Just a 30 minute break from reality is a wonderful little detail!

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      Especially if you have a stray patch of sunlight to spend it in!

      Reply
  5. bn100

    jog

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      is there a terrain you prefer?

      Reply
  6. daria

    Is this open to US residents?

    I’m going to answer with reading. 🙂

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      Open to all Daria. Are there particular books you like?

      Reply
  7. Kristina Oden

    Thank you for the wonderful Blog Hop! I am so excited to find all you new authors and books!! I am so looking forward to checking out your books! A little inspiration goes a long way!

    Reply
  8. Kristina Oden

    I’m sorry, I forgot. My 5 minute time-out… Just to be able to get outside and breathe the fresh air & clear my brain.

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      That’s a good one Kristina. It’s funny how fresh air gives you a new perspective isn’t it?

      Reply
  9. Meg Rhea

    My 5 minute time out is doing mosaics. It relaxes me and lets me stop and breathe! Thank you for participating!

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      That’s an excellent idea – focus on something really small instead of everything else. Thanks for sharing Meg.

      Reply
  10. Devine Warnes PA

    Thank you for being a part of the Hop !!!! This is awesome…..

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      You’re welcome – it is awesome!

      Reply
  11. wlcannavina

    My 5 minute time out is sitting at the coffee shop having coffee and a scone (I spend a lot of time at home being mom and it’s nice to get away for just me time)

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      I work for home, and sometimes getting out of the house is the best of all things isn’t it?

      Reply
  12. Grace E Hart

    My favorite 5 minute time out is just rocking out to some music!
    Thank you for participating in this hop!

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      Thanks for visiting. I love a blast of loud music too.

      Reply
  13. Amanda Avakian

    Just five minutes alone in the bathroom would be great!

    Reply
  14. Tammie Browning

    I walk away to be alone and just think of positive things, like my grandchildren, that always relaxes me, puts a smile on my face, calms me down and then I can get back to what I was doing.
    Thank you for the chance.

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      Thanks for sharing Tammy; I like alone time too.

      Reply
  15. Ruth L.

    Thanks for the giveaway! My 5 minute time out is playing with my two cats.

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      Mt friend Katy does the same Ruth, but I have dogs for that. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  16. Deb Carroll

    Right now…I could just use a nap, in a corner, under the bed…it doesn’t matter!

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      I’m a big believer in naps myself!

      Reply
  17. Stephanie lawrence

    I live just outside of Orlando so my time out is going to any body of water. No phone, no books come on no electronics, no music, just water. It resets me as long as I don’t get eaten by an alligator

    Reply
  18. Grace Hart

    My favorite time out is hanging with the furbabies!
    Thank you for participating in this hop!
    I couldn’t like this though!

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      Thanks so much Grace. My dog is right here next to me right now.

      Reply
  19. lindamoffitt02

    My Favorite 5 Min Time-Out is hiding in the bathroom with my kindle because it’s the only place I can go to hide from My Hubby and Kids

    Reply
    • lindamoffitt02

      I don’t know if you need our emails but mine is iamabho (at) gmail.com

      Reply
      • Alexandria

        Thanks Linda. I can never seem to find as much time to read as I would like, so maybe I should do the same.

        Reply
  20. Teresa Williams

    I love to fill the tub with bubbles have a good book and a glass of wine handy and soak

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      I could do with that right now!

      Reply
  21. Sheila M.Y

    Spend quality time with my sister

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      That’s lovely, thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  22. Brittany

    Cuddles with my kids and fur babies!!

    Reply
  23. wlcannavina

    Ty so much for being apart of the Little Things blog hop

    Reply
  24. Christina Wagner

    I have several different things I do. Sometimes I write or doodle, take slow steady breaths, and sometimes I scream (not at anyone just a scream).

    Reply
    • Alexandria

      Screaming sounds quite daring Christina, it must be very liberating

      Reply
  25. Nicole Ortiz

    Listen to music or read
    Thanks for the chance

    Reply

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