Marsha's Musings: One Day at A Time, One Hour at a Time

I am continually reminded that God expects me to take one day at a time. He only gives me grace for today. This morning I was awakened at 5:30 with a terrible headache and I knew it was going to be "one of those days". For those of you who also have "those days", here are some tips to get you through it.

• Lower your expectations of what you wanted & planned to accomplish...do what's necessary but don't beat yourself up if you can't do all.
• Put yourself on the timer method. If you have a task you just need to do, set the timer for 15 minutes and then rest for 10, then go back to it for another 15 until you complete the task.
• Don't feel bad about taking a nap during the day if you have too.
• Refresh yourself by laying down flat with your feet up for 15 minutes and your eyes closed...breath deeply and concentrate on breathing from your belly. When you are in pain you tend to breath shallow. Breathing deeply will help relax your body and refresh you.
• Fix easy meals on the days you aren't feeling well....this takes a little planning ahead, but on the good days make extra that can be frozen for the bad days.
• If your pain is caused from inflamation, drink ginger root tea or take ginger root capsules...if you take the capsules make sure you eat something after it or drink lots of fluid so it doesn't open in your throat....they don't feel good when that happens.
• It you have a headache, you might try a cup of green tea. It has just enough caffiene in it that it might ease the headache along with Tylenol. I am not an advocate of caffiene, but if your neck is out and causing constriction of the blood vessels, the caffiene will dialate them to allow the blood flow back to your head, easing the headache. You may want to see a chiropractor or physical therapist if this is a chronic issue.

I hope maybe some of these suggestions will be helpful if you are having "one of those days". Above all, remember to take it one day, one hour at a time and God will give you the grace you need to get through it as you trust Him.