Not one of those people

[mousme]

There are days when I really wish I was one of Those People™.

You know the ones, those who find stress motivating. When they have something stressful they clean their house from top to bottom. They go to the gym and run on the treadmill to blow off steam. They compulsively organise their paperwork. They only eat healthy foods because they're too stressed to manage anything heavier.

I'd love to be one of those people, but I'm not. Add stress and all you get is me doing the metaphorical equivalent of curling up in a ball in the furthest, darkest corner of my house and Not Dealing™. I procrastinate, let things get out of hand, eat the wrong foods, and generally do things that only add to the stress, and thus it becomes a vicious cycle.

What I want to know, therefore, is how the hell to become one of those people. Is it even possible? Are there classes I can take? A pill that will do that? ;)

Comments

[foi-nefaste.livejournal.com]

In my experience, the key to becoming One Of Those People(tm) is channeling procrastination into non-tv/reading/fanfic and figuring out exactly how far to push it.

For example: say I have to write something I don't want to write, but I really need to do it. I know it's due (say) at noon on Thursday, and I have all week to do it. As long as it's not done, I'm not going to watch tv or read fic during the time I should be working on it (in my case, before 8pm or so, your schedule may vary...)... but I'll do laundry, dishes, clean, go to the gym, finish spreadsheets, write everything ELSE in an effort to avoid dealing with it... and then write the blasted thing on Thursday morning. By the time I'm done with it, I'm a stress-ball, but I've got an empty inbox and a clean house, which at least beats the alternative.

Basically, you've just got to work with the procrastination impulse and channel it right. Takes FOREVER to learn, but it may be the best life-skill I've ever picked up.

Good luck! :)

[joenotcharles.livejournal.com]

No pills, but apparently electrocuting yourself will do it. (http://www.lastwordonnothing.com/2012/02/09/better-living-through-electrochemistry)

[le-maistre-e.livejournal.com]

If you do figure something out, please let me know. 'Cause I'll sign up for the classes, or swallow the pills, right along with you.

[roque-clasique.livejournal.com]

I am currently trying to force myself to become one of those people. When I'm stressed I just want to sleep, cry, or read Dean h/c. Once I start doing something, like cleaning the kitchen, I can feel how it's helpful and stress-alleviating, but getting started is the really hard part for me. I have to pep-talk myself the whole time. I'll admit I do like running on the treadmill... it's the only thing I do where I don't second-guess myself every second, because I'm too busy sweating and panting. Again, though, getting myself to the gym is the hardest part. Yesterday I didn't go because I didn't want to lace up my sneakers. True story.

[primrose-1.livejournal.com]

I don't think those people really exist. They might put up that kind of image, but they are exactly the ones who will eat a whole pint of Ben and Jerrys when things fall apart. Don't think they don't.

Having done the stress thing myself, I find that little baby steps work best for me. Make the bed. Try for a lower calorie version of your comfort food. Go outside and be in the sunshine- even if it's just to get the mail. Do one hard thing a day, then reward yourself with a nap.

I'm starting to be worried about you, sweetie. Hang in there!

[heartofawarrior.livejournal.com]

I just got through an entire quarter by bribing myself with cups of tea (and occasionally chocolate, if I had any to hand) to get my assignments done. It's not the GREATEST strategy, but it worked, and if next quarter is anything like this one, I'll be doing it again. Reading also makes an excellent reward - be it fic, or stuff with actual literary merit (occasional overlap, there). Unpleasant stuff like cleaning is made more tolerable when it's accompanied by something shiny on TV (activity permitting), or by music. I just need to not bash myself on the footboard of the bed anymore while dancing around Mrs. Doubtfire-style with the vacuum in here...