Theresa at SubjectVerbObject is inspiring Foreign Service Bloggers (yes, we're an entity deserving of capitalization) to rejuvenate our blogs and get us through the spring slump, if such a thing can be blamed for my writing laziness. This week I chose Prompt #1: Tell us about what you’re doing to stay happy at Post, even when everything from housing to R&R to your spouse’s work schedule seems to be going wrong.
I love my work and life in the Foreign Service, but there are some days that just leave me feeling defeated. I've had a couple of those in the past month, but thankfully my coworkers and friends at Post and around the world are there to validate my efforts when I need a self-esteem boost. While external validation is wonderful and has been particularly appreciated recently, I also need to do what I can to keep myself happy and healthy, inside and out.
Regular exercise contributes a lot to staying even-keeled, and I've discovered that Zumba after work is a fun, social activity that gets me off the treadmill/elliptical and is well worth getting home later some nights. My colleagues and I keep each other motivated to go, since it's much more fun with a decent sized group, and we make sure to laugh a lot as well. Plus, I'm finally getting the steps to Pharrell's song 'Happy' down, so that's a plus!
To compensate for getting home later a few nights a week, I've been very good at cooking a big meal on Sundays so I have dinners for the rest of the week. I am generally fine eating the same thing for several nights in a row, and this way I don't stress about what to make or how much time it'll take to make since all I need to do is reheat. We work long days Monday to Thursday, and since I need to keep a fairly rigid sleep schedule to stay healthy, every moment saved is precious. My cats agree that more evening cuddle time is important
Regular facials, massages, reflexology, and mani/pedis is another way to stay happy, especially since the services are so affordable here. I really should take more advantage of these opportunities for the remainder of my tour.
One of my favorite things, no matter where in the world I am, is planning and anticipating getaways. I love traveling, particularly if it involves seeing animals, and right now I have a lot to look forward to. TripAdvisor is an instant pick-me-up as I read reviews of the places I'm going soon and get giddily excited. The NYT did an article about the importance of anticipation for vacations this week, and it definitely struck a chord.
Finally, I have my awesome friends to rely on. Whether it's high tea, venting sessions, or teaming up to find homes for neighborhood kittens, my friends at Post play a big part in my happiness. While I'm very sad to bid adieu to many of them this summer, it means both that a new crop of potential friends is moving in and that I have more worldly destinations to visit when departing friends get to new posts.
I look forward to learning about other happy-keeping strategies around the world!
I love my work and life in the Foreign Service, but there are some days that just leave me feeling defeated. I've had a couple of those in the past month, but thankfully my coworkers and friends at Post and around the world are there to validate my efforts when I need a self-esteem boost. While external validation is wonderful and has been particularly appreciated recently, I also need to do what I can to keep myself happy and healthy, inside and out.
Regular exercise contributes a lot to staying even-keeled, and I've discovered that Zumba after work is a fun, social activity that gets me off the treadmill/elliptical and is well worth getting home later some nights. My colleagues and I keep each other motivated to go, since it's much more fun with a decent sized group, and we make sure to laugh a lot as well. Plus, I'm finally getting the steps to Pharrell's song 'Happy' down, so that's a plus!
To compensate for getting home later a few nights a week, I've been very good at cooking a big meal on Sundays so I have dinners for the rest of the week. I am generally fine eating the same thing for several nights in a row, and this way I don't stress about what to make or how much time it'll take to make since all I need to do is reheat. We work long days Monday to Thursday, and since I need to keep a fairly rigid sleep schedule to stay healthy, every moment saved is precious. My cats agree that more evening cuddle time is important
Regular facials, massages, reflexology, and mani/pedis is another way to stay happy, especially since the services are so affordable here. I really should take more advantage of these opportunities for the remainder of my tour.
One of my favorite things, no matter where in the world I am, is planning and anticipating getaways. I love traveling, particularly if it involves seeing animals, and right now I have a lot to look forward to. TripAdvisor is an instant pick-me-up as I read reviews of the places I'm going soon and get giddily excited. The NYT did an article about the importance of anticipation for vacations this week, and it definitely struck a chord.
Finally, I have my awesome friends to rely on. Whether it's high tea, venting sessions, or teaming up to find homes for neighborhood kittens, my friends at Post play a big part in my happiness. While I'm very sad to bid adieu to many of them this summer, it means both that a new crop of potential friends is moving in and that I have more worldly destinations to visit when departing friends get to new posts.
I look forward to learning about other happy-keeping strategies around the world!
