by Helen Redfern (Tue Mar 02, 2010)
This weekend I've been knee deep in vapour rub, Calpol and sick buckets.
My husband is hundreds of miles away (oh didn't he time that well) and
(hysterical laughter) the mother-in-law has just left after staying for a few
days just to help me out.
Deep breaths in and out. And in. And out.
It's fair to say my shoulders are around my ears, my breathing is short
and ragged and my lower jaw is pushed forward, teeth clamped firmly down. I
daren't even look in the mirror. If I did I'm sure my hair would look like I've
had my fingers in the electric plug socket. For hours.
All I want to do is make myself a proper coffee, drink it (without the
pointed look implying ‘don't you think you drink too much of that?') and
throw some chocolate into my mouth. Usually when I feel like this - this overwhelmed,
out of control, everything-is-beginning-to-get-fuzzy-around-the-edges feeling,
I could easily hoover down a whole family-sized packet of Cadburys buttons. The
giant ones. Not the small piddly ones.
But I also have a secret. A secret stress buster if you like.
I take myself off for an early night and read a book. I know, I know,
hold the front pages. Helen's secret for relaxing is to read a book.
Shocker.
Please bear with me. There is more.
Research is available to back up my de-stressing technique. The
University of Sussex has found that reading for six minutes can reduce stress
levels by 68%. Reading works far better than grabbing a coffee, a tea, wine,
or, sadly, stuffing your face with any chocolate you can lay your hands on.
But what the University of Sussex haven't said is that it has to be a
certain kind of book. It can't be anything taxing or emotional or stressful. It
needs to transport you away to another world. Where the sea is cornflower blue,
where the water is as cold as ice and the weather is glorious.
There may also be lashings of ham and peas picked fresh from the garden.
Ripe tomatoes and thick doorstep sandwiches. And cream cakes. Throw in an
island, a ruined castle, a dog and a boat and my shoulders drop about ten
inches.
Yes - my secret de-stressing technique is to read ‘The Famous Five.'
Life is always better after reading about Julian, Dick, George and Anne, not
forgetting Timothy the dog. Incidentally if you are going to try my secret
de-stressing technique but certain words Enid Blyton used could potentially
make you angry (defeating the whole object), then I must recommend a modern
version where all politically incorrect references have been removed.
As soon as I open the book and re-read for the gazillionth time that
George will not on any terms answer to the name of Georgina, I'm transported
away. To Kirrin Cottage, or a caravan, a place called Smuggler's Top or best of
all, to Kirrin Island where the children shelter in a cave. They sleep on
heathery beds and after a bathe in the sea, Anne has thoughtfully made them a
cup of cocoa. Sigh. How uncomplicated. How heavenly.
So when I've had a bit of a day or night of it, guess where you'll find
me? That's right, lying on my bed, with ‘The Famous Five' open in one hand.
And I beg to differ with all those researchers at the University.
Because they're wrong. The glass of wine in my other hand and mammoth sized box
of Cadbury's chocolate within easy reach is part of my essential stress busting
kit.
Essential.
