KJ's Guide To: Shoving things under the rug and burning the rug

I only have three emotions.

1. Happy
2. Neutral
3. Frustrated

Just kidding. But seriously, it's kinda true. Frustration (aka stress, anger, exasperation, etc.) usually just gets internalized and manifests itself in anxiety and digestive disorders. This is quite uncomfortable and counterproductive, so I do whatever it takes to get back to neutral or happy.

Typically, when someone is going through stressful stuff that is occupying the mind, causing loss of sleep and generally getting in the way of life, I think the suggested advice is to "talk to someone about it." This helps with processing; I do it on a regular basis. However, there are some problems with this.

1. I don't always like talking to people.
2. I don't always know what exactly is bothering me.
3. When I'm frustrated, I'm usually mad at someone but will get over it before too long. Bringing someone else in on that loop has the chance of damaging other peoples' relationships. 
4. Just talking to someone about the problem won't make that boy like me, won't fix the stressful situation at work, won't make the friend apologize and won't make a relationship situation any easier.
5. Life needs to go on regardless of the stressful situation.

So I've come up with an excellent method of returning myself to neutral sanity that is essentially shoving the issue under the rug and burning the rug. Another way of phrasing it: jump-starting the process of "just get over it." These are sequential and go in order. I'm not a psychologist and make no claims to be an expert, so I accept no responsibility for any professional medical or mental health advice that this might contradict.

1. Exercise until borderline exhaustion. This will probably take 30-90 minutes. Pick an activity that is medium-high intensity and really go for it. Keep going. And keep going some more. Keep going until you can barely think anymore (Once upon a few months ago, I was quite frustrated with a boy. I did a kickboxing class. And then did 30 minutes on a cardio machine at a super-high level. And then lifted weights. I got home and was still thinking too much, so I ran three miles. That finally did it! I do have a higher internal energy level than most people, but you've got to do whatever it takes). Seriously, this is an incredibly important step because it helps out with #3.
2. Eat a full, well-balanced meal. For me, it's best to eat a meal that primarily consists of lean protein, fruits and veggies. The temptation while stressed is to eat fat and sugar. But what's that going to do? It'll probably make you feel guilty for over-indulging in crap-food which really won't help get over the situation at hand. So eat some healthy stuff that actually helps your body out with no guilt trips.
3. Get a good night's sleep. To quote The Bourne Identity (the book), "Sleep is a weapon." A well-rested mind and body is a beautiful thing and can really assist in approaching situations with a fresh, renewed perspective. Different people have different sleep needs; you know your body best.

That's it in a nutshell! A few times I've had to do this two days in a row. After that, I'm usually good. But just in case, here are a few additional things to try.

• Go easy on stimulants and depressants like caffeine and alcohol. They alter moods and can cause over-reactions.
• Drink lots of water.
• After your good night's sleep, get dressed in a smashing outfit you feet confident and attractive in. Wear make-up! Accessorize! I typically bust out a pair of confidence-inspiring heels for work. Like these (not my feet)-

  So if you're in the position where you just need to get over something, give it a shot!