Five Things That Turn My Blah Days into Fabulous Ones by Kristen Proby

[Note from Frolic: We are so excited to have author Kristen Proby guest post on the site today. Take it away Kristen!]

I’m a creature of habit. I admit that things like travel and early morning appointments can get me off track and totally disrupt my day. I think that’s why writing suits me so well, I have a morning routine that gets my brain ready to sit at the keyboard and lose myself in make-believe.

However, on those days when I’m struggling, there are some items that can set me right again, and I’m excited to share them with you!

1. I need some coffee. If it’s delivered to me in bed by my ridiculously handsome husband, all the better! I prefer to have extra time to wake up slowly, sip my coffee, and scroll through Instagram. I’m blessed with a husband who understands that I need to take my time to wake up, and it’s in his routine to bring me a steaming mug. Yes, ladies, he’s all mine!
2. My cats. I’m an animal lover! John and I have two super adorable cats, Milo and Fiona, and they never fail to make me laugh. They’re awesome snugglers, too. Most cats like to do their own thing, napping or hiding the day away, but our cats are social, wanting to be wherever we are. They follow us from room to room. Fiona is sleeping in her bed at my feet while I type this, in fact. So having them nearby always helps to lift my spirits.
3. A massage. Many people don’t know this about me, but about four lifetimes ago, I was a professional massage therapist. I discovered quickly that I wasn’t cut out to do bodywork for the long haul. To be honest, touching strangers just isn’t for me. But, touch is my love language, and massage is the best stress reliever for me. So, I’ve gone to the same therapist weekly for about five years now. It’s my gift to myself, and is one hour each week when I can’t be reached in any way. No calls, no emails. Just me, lying on the table, getting all the kinks worked out. It’s my own version of absolute heaven!
4. Sometimes, I just need to chat with a friend. I have a couple of women in my life that I speak with pretty much daily. We bounce ideas off each other, we vent to each other, and we are simply there for each other. While I do love working from home, one thing I’ve come to miss is personal interaction. Coworkers. And I find that if I’m particularly moody or stressed out, talking through it with someone I trust is an immense help.
5. The last item on this list is a romance novel, of course! But on days that I’m just not feeling like myself, I need something extra funny. This week, I’ve read Better Than Me by Kimberly Kincaid and Fluffy by Julia Kent, and let me just tell you right now, they’re both off the charts in the hilarity and the feels. I can’t tell you how often I found myself grinning, chuckling, and sometimes flat out barking in laughter while I read these two fantastic novels. There’s just something cathartic about losing myself in a love story, being consumed by another world, and getting swept away in the romance and the humor. They say laughter is the best medicine, and I’m inclined to agree.

So, those are five of the things I do to lift my spirits. There are more, too, like bubble baths and sitting in my car with the radio blaring. I mean, who doesn’t feel better after they’ve belted out every song on the Greatest Showman soundtrack? I do.

Oh! And I have to mention face masks. On the rare occasions that I’m in an extra moody mood, I’ll lock myself in the bathroom, take a long hot shower, and then put a nice moisturizing face mask on. I don’t know what it is about supple skin that makes me feel better, but it does.

I hope you’re having an amazing week, and that you have no need for any of these tips! But if you’re struggling, I hope I’ve given you some tools to have on stand by to lift your spirits.

Happy Reading!