On and Off topic - I AM BORED

Clean out closets, do something about organizing a big project -- do something that shows, and that helps you feel like you're accomplishing something.

When I feel the way you've described, I need something bigger than stitching or reading, and I find that accomplishing that really shows and helps me feel good somehow helps to kick-start me into doing something more.

I'm so sorry you're struggling.

(1) call a girlfriend and go out to lunch.

(2) let it be for a while, maybe your body is telling you to relax a little longer (that is, if you and yours will not actually starve while you repair yourself.)

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Sounds like you might need an antidepressant. Everything has happened just at the wrong time for you - coinciding with the famous "Winter Blues". Maybe a SAD lamp?

Pat

Try a pedicure...

*ducking and running*

Ok. I'm only half joking. A mini-vacation spa day or massage or really nice hair cut and color, something you wouldn't usually spring for, can work wonders, I find.

Time and money can be found somewhere. There's always time and money for hockey, mom. Skim both from that.

Elizabeth

Join a gym - that you like. Not a "get picked up" place - but someplace that you can go do some healthy stuff for you, and get your energy up. It helps. 45 min - 90 min a few times a week. May give you the mental and physical break.

ellice

I just did the hair cut thing - should have gone shorter. I really don't see the point of the day spa thing; maybe with a friend, but not alone.

I often get restless this time of year, but this time seems worse. Unsatisfied with just about everything - physically, mentally, emotionally. DH is doing great, DS seems to have not done his usually second quarter fall apart... So there is no reason ... Or rhyme.

Maybe while the boys are away in Feb, DD and I will go do something not hockey.....

C

I'm not depressed - just restless.

I did start the huge project of de-papering the house. We've gotten rid of

2-3 bags of shredded paperwork. The 2+ foot stack of statements from the banks etal is now about 6 inches and ready for the filing cabinet. I might even convince him we don't need 10 year old credit card statements.

My closet and stash could use a re-arrange, but I'll need DH gone first.

Cheryl

I've been trying - two of my best "go out to lunch" buds are dealing with illnesses......

Oh - they'd starve or order pizza.

My other thoughts.

Yeah - what she said.

ellice

Speaking from experience - restless can be a symptom of depression - as can the general can't find something that fits my mood to do, general boredom with life, etc. At this point, I would recommend mild exercise (go walk around your favorite LNS) once or twice a day, sunlight, increase the protein in your diet, and maybe consider taking some 5HTP or tryptophan supplements (the amino acid the body needs for serotonin).

I was just going to suggest something similar to this. Go out and buy yourself something totally indulgent and make sure it's not something you need. Just something you want because it's pretty. Or take time out and have a facial, or anything that you ordinarily wouldn't think of spending money on.

I'm sure they can manage for a day without you. Just take off in the morning and return in the afternoon. Maybe happiness would be going to a movie or a show that your kids wouldn't be interested in. Just do a Cheryl day.

I promise, they will manage and if all they can find to eat is pizza, they'll survive that too.

Lucille

Like Jere i do clean some stuff , or iron or repair or go for a long walk , or go to the museum ,,,, or just go and visit a good friend mirjam

Restlessness is actually a primary symptom of depression. Pat's suggestion about a sun lamp, or even a few full spectrum lightbulbs carefully placed, is a good one. A brisk 20 minute walk a few times a week can work wonders, also.

When I was depressed after my mom died, my GP asked me about focus. I didn't think I was depressed because I was getting my classes taught, but I wasn't working on ANY of my long term projects. Treating the depression helped me focus.

Elizabeth

Pat's

I have to agree with this one - one of the reasons we left Washington state was the weather - I am very prone to depression and nine months of clouds and rain did not help a bit. It's beautiful out there in the summer, but you can't store sunlight!

That's about verbatim what I was going to say. Sorry I live too far away to do lunch!

Sara

You don't actually have to go out of town to go on vacation. Why not take a look at your town or a nearby one from the point of view of an outsider and plan a weekend vacation 'in your own backyard' so to speak. Visit a museum or go to a concert. If there is a public garden nearby visit there, even though the plants and trees may not be at their best it will be less crowded and you can sometimes see a wide variety of wildlife. Almost every town has some kind of tourist attraction whether big or small which they boast about but which the locals usually ignore; why not visit it with a friend and then have lunch nearby.

Beverly B

It might be due to post-everything let-down. You've been running on adrenaline awhile, between family crises and demands and holidays. That's only just ended. And kids only just went back to school, so you've gone from "all" to "nothing" in terms of activity in your day.

I agree with feed-your-soul activities: do get a full-spectrum lamp, but get also some exercise and allow yourself some time to be bored and de-compress. You've been "one foot before the other" with no break for awhile. Now that you're moving away from autopilot you actually have the luxury/necessity of choice, which is be a two-edged sword. Let yourself (i.e., give yourself permission to) "flounder" mentally for a few days and play with various ideas until you see which one rises like cream: stitch those 12 stitches (on each of six WIPs!); start planning your spring garden - just dreaming without practical considerations is fine; have a floss-toss for the hell of it; take a walk; and do seek out some friends. Maybe even go by yourself to a movie just "because I can!" or make 20 different "pie in the sky" plans for your DD getaway in Feb before you choose one. Let yourself just play.

Sounds like it could be depression, but it could just be restlessness (de-COM-pression), too, that will pass in a short time when the pendulum re-centers itself.

Sue