How can you stay on track when facing frustration? I’m fighting a Windows 11 22h2 update that has rendered my laptop unusable without an external keyboard. Most keys work. Sometimes they all work. But inexplicably, I’ll be typing along and suddenly have no c,v,m, and enter. Without c, I can’t type my name or use a shortcut to copy. Without v, I can’t use a shortcut to paste. Without enter…you get the picture.
Technology isn’t my only frustration. Contractors have been in my home for two weeks. Every morning I have to cover things in plastic and remove everything from the kitchen countertops because they workers don’t necessarily proceed in the order they predicted the day before. I can’t do laundry because that room is partially finished.
On top of that, power surges have caused repeated air conditioning failures at my office that must be dealt with and paid for. My ISP coded my internet for 100 Mbps instead of 1000 and didn’t find the error for 5 service calls. I’m dealing with the aftermath of evicting a friend from my home. I’m facing a tax deadline. My RV battery is dead (hopefully not forever). And it’s 110˚ outside.
I say all of that, not for you to feel bad for me; none of these things are catastrophic. I just want to paint a picture of why I feel more frustrated than usual by everyday problems. We all get to this point at times.
The challenge is finding a way to stay on track with our health plan when we feel like we’re at a breaking point.
A lot of advice emphasizes self-care at times like these. My problem is I’d define self-care as turning the A/C to 65, jumping in bed and binge watching while eating chips and cookies until it cools off or the contractors leave. Obviously, frustration is tempting me toward unhealthy choices.
Wrangling the resources to make healthier decisions feels overwhelming. Do I know how to ask for help? Yes. Do I have friends who will help? Yes. Does it feel like more than I can do to figure out what I need and then pick up the phone and ask for it? Yes. Frustration has doubled down.
And if I start down the path of being angry at myself for not just getting a grip and functioning, I’ll neither be kind to myself nor lessen my frustration.
So, what should I do?
Make a plan? It’s great to have a plan in advance. I was prepared for the first week of this round of house reno. I spent the previous weekend cooking, cleaning, and removing stuff from the kitchen. I had food available that was easy to grab and easy to clean up. But one week turned into two (now three) and I had visitors on the weekends. My plan was not sufficient.
And that’s usually how we end up at this point of frustration. Something, or many things, outside our realm of control go awry. We use our intellectual, physical, and emotional resources to work around them until we begin to feel ineffective.
When a plan stops working, revise it or let it go. The quicker you can do this, the quicker you’ll be able to move forward. Hanging onto something that isn’t working only adds to frustration.
To keep your eating plan on track, buy some quick foods that are readily available from your local store. While you’re at it buy extra in case a frustrating situation drags on. To keep my diet gluten-free and low in histamine, I buy:
- QuickSteak ̶ Frozen shaved steak that cooks in a matter of minutes. It comes frozen with 3 break-a-part servings and a seasoning packet that’s currently gluten free. There’s also a chicken version of this I haven’t tried.
- Trader Joe’s Grassfed Beef Sirloin Roast ̶ 20 minutes in the oven on a foil covered pan and you have roast beef to eat sliced, atop a salad, or in a quick stir fry the next day.
- Rotisserie Chicken ̶ Many grocery stores have these available. Be sure to read the label to determine if the seasoning contains any prohibited ingredients.
- Bagged Boiled Eggs ̶ I can make egg salad in a matter of minutes.
- Microwave Rice https://anniechun.com/products/ ̶ This rice cooks in one minute and can be eaten for breakfast or as the starch at another meal.
- Ready to Microwave potatoes ̶ With my microwave currently in the dining room, these potatoes make things easier. I don’t have to wash or puncture them. I just pop them in and set the timer.
- Veggies ̶ I choose veggies that I enjoy raw: Sugar snap peas, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, bell peppers, butter lettuce, arugula, baby bok choy.
- Frozen Veggies ̶ English peas and edamame are my favorites. A steam-in bag reduces the amount of cleanup required.
- Fresh fruit ̶ Apples, bananas, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and grapes all make a regular rotation. Peaches and pears in season are also favorites.
- Goat cheese ̶ I add this to scrambled eggs, eat it on crackers, and serve it with black cherry jam and a glass of wine to neighbors who want to see the progress on my house.
These are all fast, easy items that require minimal cooking and are easy to clean up. That makes them perfect for weeks that are erratic and frustrating.
Ordering delivery can also be a way to be kind to yourself when the budget allows. Often ordering through a restaurant’s website and letting them choose the delivery service is less expensive than ordering through a delivery service’s site.
When I feel frustrated because there are too many things to do, it’s harder to find time to work out. Letting the extra trips up and down the stairs, furniture moving, and yard work count as part of my workout makes me feel less pushed for time.
During difficult periods, I try to organize tasks based on when I function best. For me, solving computer problems at 10pm is ill advised. That task is better suited to the morning. When my mind is rested and fresh, I don’t get frustrated as quickly.
Keeping environmental chaos to a minimum helps me feel calmer and less stressed. On the other hand, tolerating a small amount of disarray in the house means spending less time shifting things around only to shift it back when the contractor arrives the next day . I just try to find the balance point.
No matter what the stressor is, rest is essential to minimizing its effect. At frustrating times, I can be kind to myself by going to bed on time even if that means leaving something undone.
If it lessens my stress, this is a great time to rely on priorities. If I’m already feeling like things are spinning out of control, it’s not the time to try to sit and determine what’s most important.
Sometimes the best way to move forward is to start with a simple task that’s right in front of me and go from there.
- I can plug in an external keyboard and type this post without solving my ongoing problem.
- I can order lunch for delivery. I’m cringing a bit over the cost, but I’ll get enough for two meals so I can regroup this evening without having to think about food.
- Next, I’m going to pay bills. I’m not going to file the papers on my desk. That will only make me feel more behind because I have a deadline looming on another project. I’ll stack the pile neatly and save filing for later. Once the bills are paid, the contractor will most likely be gone for the day and I’ll be able to determine my next step.
Just typing those steps makes me feel less frustrated and more on my game. I have a loose plan. I can visualize getting through the day. And I can see a light at the end of the construction tunnel.
Will I get everything done that I have planned? Maybe. Will I still feel frustrated at the end of the day? Maybe. But when I take a step back and look at the improvements in the house, I’ll know it’s been a good day!
Now if I can just conquer this laptop!!!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
