Pity party for one

Moleculark
I hate to complain about it, particularly when people have more things going on that deserve online complaint airspace, but my favourite month of the year so far has been a real letdown.  I've been almost completely back to my old investment banking hours for some time now and between that and the barn sucking up the time leftover, it really has left me no time to take care of myself.  I haven't been to the gym in who knows how long and my dinner most nights is a cup of tea and a spoonful of yogurt.  I try to remind myself that I chose this consciously and there's no one else to blame except for the haggard, worn reflection in the mirror but the truth is it's always easier to point fingers at others.  And that is really the extent of the pity party that I'm going to throw myself.  Womp womp womp <throws confetti> - okay that's enough.

The sadly hilarious thing about being stressed and tired is that I'm now at that age where I really know myself and in times like these, my naughty old coping mechanisms rear their ugly, bulbous noggins again.  I'll admit it: I am an emotional eater & online shopper.  Because, obviously, those are both things that you can do in front of your work computer.  I like to think that I'm at the maturity level where I can catch and control this, but it's actually quite comical to see how it manifests itself.  Amazon Prime (and any other online store that has fast and free delivery) becomes your best friend AND worst enemy.  Case in point, so far this week, I have bought saddle cleaner, saddle oil, three different coloured mugs, and a padlock.  Might as well throw in the partridge in the pear tree.*  I know many of you have kindly told me that you share this personality quirk (even just to make me feel better about myself), so tell me, what is the best/funniest/most random thing that you've bought under stress?


*Christmas references already?  I know, tsk tsk shame on me.


Comments

  1. Spending-wise, I guess I'm the opposite when I get stressed, I just get irrational but with no discernible pattern. I just bought a new giant smart phone and the guy tried to sell me so much additional insurance and options that I got frustrated and kept picturing how much more this phone would cost me {even though I said no to everything}. I wound up with almost no data plan for the phone and it ran out in two days. So I have a super advance smart phone but I still ask people to look things up for me. :)

    I'm sorry about your hours, I can relate to that. Hopefully you still get weekends to relax, but doesn't going to the barn count as exercise and relaxation?

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  2. oops! I meant "advanced". I shouldn't post comments so early in the morning.

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  3. I find myself eating alot as well when I'm stressing
    out my schoolwork and such! I try to avoid those
    onlineshops with free shipping services really...
    Xx

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  4. You need to get a much bigger table, too many people here will want to keep you company and try to cheer you up. Anything I can do???

    I once bought a small bar of magnesium...it was part of a small kit for making a fire under any circumstances (including rain and snow). You never know when you're going to need a signal fire or one to cook over. :)

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    1. Oops, I mentioned the magnesium only because it's the strangest thing I've purchased. My stress-induced buying is usually limited to food--unhealthy food.

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  5. oh no, that doesn't sound good. I'm the opposite of you. if things get out of hand I neither eat nor shop. I usually get sulky and try my best to make things even more miserable. to me, a little retail therapy sounds not too bad.

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  6. I think all my purchases were done under stress! :P But yeah...I hear yah. When I'm down, I have to stay away from online stores, or we'll seriously be in the poor house:(
    And yeah....I'm hating this month too:( If it's not for little E's bday coming up soon, I feel like just throwing in the towel until December....sigh....

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  7. I love that your pity parties include confetti!
    I'm with you, mourning the loss of October. My concept of time is totally off lately. We recently got Amazon Prime and so far I've used it mostly for tv shows (such a time suck) and one big undated calendar. What? Take care, funks are such a finicky thing.

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  8. I get totally ridiculous when I stress-spend and it's not always stuff for me that I'm buying. For example, I thought it'd be a good idea to buy Gia & Molly a cuddle cup, i.e. a plush, pillowy, comfy bed for them to hang out in when they're outside of the cage. Do they need it? Nope. They have as many toys and playhouses as a small child. But I still spent $30 on that dang thing and all they've done with it so far is chew it up.

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  9. i'd have to say i am the opposite, when i feel bad i go into self-depravation mode "i deserve nothing, if i spend one dollar i might become homeless and make my children homeless. how am i going to live for the rest of my life? i don't have a retirement plan. i am a total loser." then i sit really still and move really quietly in my house. i go into complete 'follow all the rules' mode; i clean my house, tackle old to-do lists, anything to keep me occupied, and i guess i am hoping it will create good karma for me when i am old and don't have those retirement funds. retail therapy sounds way more fun to me :)

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  10. Online shopping is definitely a good way to calm down your nerves! Hope you will find some time to take care of yourself soon! I am thinking of you!

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  11. I don't do too much stress shopping. I hope things become less stressful very soon!

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  12. I am an emotional eater and total stress shopper. I also think stress shopping and eatting is such a slippery slope for me because I do not eat a couple french fries- I will eat the whole container and add a milk shake :). you know what goes down must go up. I think you just need some of you time and take care of you- treat yourself to a delicious coffee and a cheap pedicure :)

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  13. Oh goodness. Usually I imagine myself in a stress free situation, like, on the beach or something. And then I buy whatever it is I can afford to make that vision come true, so like, an exercise dvd or a bikini or something - even if it's january and I have no holidays coming up or time to do an exercise dvd to get the perfect bikini body. I was so bad at stress shopping in university. SO bad!
    I hope things chill out for you soon. Less work more riding!

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  14. Oh man, stress purchases. I do it all the time and I STILL love Amazon Prime for being my enabler. Hmm, weirdest/silliest thing I bought to make myself feel better? The complete New Kids on the Block videos on DVD for $11. And years ago I bought a copy of Oregon Trail for $.01 (well, plus shipping). It ruled. Hope you have some time to tend to yourself soon. xo

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  15. aww sorry for all long work hours and other responsibilities that eat up on your time! i also used to love a quick retail therapy. so true. those can be your best friend and worst enemy!

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  16. Oh no! I hope you squeeze in some bumming-around-on-the-couch time this weekend!

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  17. Gotta let off some steam once in a while! Plus, everything you bought seems to serve a good and needed purpose! Hope the rest of the month is more enjoyable...Hmmm...when I'm stressed/tired/bored, I am an eater. I eat like whole bags of potato chips.

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  18. Ah, I totally understand how you feel. I'm also a compulsive eater and shopper when I'm upset. Thank goodness for my boyfriend who tries his best to keep things in check for me! I hope that things settle down soon and that the stress minimizes a bit. Just think that soon the holidays will be here in full swing and you'll have so many loved ones to spend time with :)

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  19. Ugh - poor you. I never know if it makes things better when you become aware of your coping mechanisims…sometimes I wonder if I'd be better off remainly blissfully ignorant of mine :) My confession was pushing the 'buy' button on a J Crew sweater around 1am this morning - not radical I know, except that I already have one exactly like it (albeit now suitable for a three year old after a trip through the wash on the wrong cycle), and I also have several, OK quite a few, that are kind of similar, and I had to buy several other random, didn't really need them, things to get the 25% off deal….

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  21. Ugh. I suffer the same mechanisms. I also plan vacations I can't afford. How sad is that?! Pretty darn.

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  22. I look to buy flats in London even though I am a very poor artist and photographer living with parents! I also design my dream interiors...

    The Young Bridget Jones

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  23. So sorry - hope it will get easier! Hm. How boring am I to admit that I haven´t bought anything weird when I´m tired/stressed?! However; I´m darn good at comfort shopping which means that 13 new sweaters can find their way home to me when life is too busy... :-P

    http://tinajoathome.com/

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  24. oh i know how you feel..
    hoping you get a little time to yourself soon

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  25. What haven't I bought under stress is the better question. I'm an impulsive and comfort buyer, and those things are a deadly combination. I think the most impulsive thing I've bought online was a super cute dress that was way over priced but I couldn't resist for oh 2 seconds. Click. Now it sits in my closet because I have no occasion for wearing it. I want to invite my husband on a date just so I can wear it.

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  26. First off, I'm totally over this Anti-Christmas-Before-Thanksgiving Business. It's been at least a decade that we've all been complaining about the Christmas decor hitting the stores pre-Halloween... might as well just accept it and move on. I don't think complaining about it is going to change anything ;)

    Second, we all have our "drugs" or coping mechanisms (mine is Pinterest and being super lazy) when things get rough. I think work has been stressful on everyone in general these days. There's more tasks getting added to the pile and not enough time, money or people to help get the job done... so I can't blame you for feeling tired!

    Third, since Christmas will practically be here before we know it, maybe turn that online shopping fix into some early Christmas present shopping? Between Baby B on the way and over 20+ people in my family... it's never too early to start shopping in my mind!

    Hope things get better, and the good news is..... the Holidays ARE almost here which means Thanksgiving and Christmas Breaks are upon us! Whoo Hoo!

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  27. I threw many pity parties for myself lately but hey it's my party and I'll cry if I want to ;) Have been working crazy hours as well but luckily I was too pooped to do some online shopping after or while at work, which is a good thing because it saved me so much money. Yup, that's me always trying to see the upside. I am sure there will be some brighter skies in your future again soon...

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  28. Comfort eater and shopper here, both just as easy to do when it is possible to pause you online lectures. I convinced myself that I needed a good stripy top the other day and so spent hours browsing for one, but all the best on ebay got too expensive for me so I spent all that time for nothing... Ebay is my downfall because it seems so cheap, even though I have no need for most of it. No, scratch that - food is my downfall and I continuously get up to go and get something to nibble on out of boredom or emotional turmoil!

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  29. Been thinking about you. I comfort eat and shop too. And stress shop and eat. Different but same, you know? My big time stress shopping comes before travel. Suddenly I need new clothes (and camera lenses). Mostly I'm sorry you've been blue.

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