I work in an open plan office in an industry where I'm interacting with creatives and clients and vendors all day long. The computer is on, the phone is ringing, there is music playing and other people having meetings and phone conversations.
At home, I walk into the house with animals barking and running, the TV is often on and I need to share time with my husband.
While most of these are good, or at least interesting, things, for a "Highly Sensitive" person they can be overwhelming and exhausting. I tolerate the stimulus as much as I can, but eventually I need to recharge and, frankly, hide out!
As a child, I had a walk in closet. My bookshelf was in there and I would sit in there with my back to the door and relax and read. Even now you will sometimes find me in my closet sitting on the floor and just organizing stuff. And if I'm away from home, after a time I will need to go away from people and sit in a quiet room. There is only so much I can take.
Moments of peace are hard to find in the over-sharing, over-stimulated, over-bright world.
On my drive home, I will frequently leave the radio off. The wind and tires are enough background noise, akin to white noise, and they help me to transition from work and prepare for home.
Lately I have been using the TED app on my iPhone to listen to TED talks. There are so many great ones to choose from with topics ranging from activism to inspiration. I just love them!
These are particularly appropriate:
Five Ways to Listen Better
Four Ways Sound Effect Us
Music, can muffle and soothe (my favorite is classical or African singers such as Habib Koite) but my favorite thing to listen to is....
The tumble dryer! It could be the association with warm, clean towels or afternoons at home, but I love it. I listen to that or the "cat purring" environment on iSerenity.com all the time!
The darker days of Fall and Winter, with early dusk, rain and cool weather, are my time to recharge. What do you do to relax, pamper and protect yourself?
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