Patsy’s next great idea

So, we were talking about using eating (or drinking or smoking) as a form of comfort to ‘help ourselves’ when things get stressful.

Sometimes a piece of chocolate, or whole box of biscuits, seems to be the obvious go-to at the end of a hard day, after that argument or when we’ve had a really upsetting piece of news. For others of us it’s that big glass of wine or a cigarette that we offer ourselves as comfort and a moment to calm down with.

And we all do it, sometimes. And sometimes we do it more than sometimes.

And then what happens?

We judge ourselves. We feel guilty, or we pretend it’s ok, it’s not that bad or that often, and that it’s fine.

But we wish we didn’t have to feel like that in the first place. We would prefer to choose what we want to eat, drink or do, rather than just react in order to feel better about ourselves.

Then Patsy shared another great idea – the second one that day. She was on a roll.

She told us that she has made a list of alternative things to do in those moments of stress or feeling low. Simple things, easy to do.

So – what might be on that list if you made one for yourself?

Reading a really interesting magazine or a book that inspires you.

Listening to music that makes you feel happy.

Dancing around the room

Watching something that makes you laugh out loud.

Looking at photos of people and places you love.

Browsing through brochures or online for places you plan to go to one day.

What else?