Suggestions for separation

An extremely wise friend and I chatted recently about being separated, and she gave me some amazing tips. She and her husband have been separated for many months and continents, and after implementing some of these, I'm feeling happier and better than before.

1. Buy a body pillow. This one has been so helpful- best $10 I've spent in recent memory. During separations I very much feel "skin hunger" where the absence of all the little touches (hugs, holding hands, casual caresses, etc) add up to actually change the brain chemistry and make for physical aching, feeling disconnected, discomfort. A body pillow isn't a perfect stand in for cuddling with a real person, but helps the bed not feel empty. And, no hard collarbones or ribs to stick you in the neck! 
2. Create a bedtime playlist/Pandora channel. I particularly have a hard time sleeping when my brain won't switch off, and this has been a godsend. My friend recommended a Pandora station seeded by Liquid Mind's "Adagio for Sleep." It's incredibly relaxing and gives me somewhere to focus my energy until I fall asleep instead of tallying up checklists or letting the brain hamster wheel keep running on "self destruct" mode. 
3. Watch inspiring documentaries. I don't know why, but I keep reaching for war movies at the library- terrible idea. I have made a concerted effort to focus more on really cool travel documentaries and little-guy-overcomes movies. Action movies and comedies get a rotation too, but my entertainment time is well spent when I come away thinking, "Wow- what a cool world and cool people there are out there."
4. Balance taking in and creating. Brilliant. My separation guru is an actual professional poet with publications, and I at least dabble in singing, crafts, building... whatever. This was an amazing tip- be sure to both nourish your creative intake (reading, watching film, doing nature walks... whatever it is that brings you inspiration) and producing. Really, it doesn't matter what- journaling, recording a song on your laptop, building a deck- something you feel good about creating or doing.
5. When missing spouse, start/work on care package. Instead of just pining, this goes with the above. When you miss the spouse, do something toward sending them that love. Seems pretty common sense, but I did not make a solid connection on that before this conversation.
6. Limit alcohol. I'm finding that even a glass or two of wine has much more effect, and a much more dramatic down after the fact. Keeping alcohol to a minimum keeps these mood swings (more) at bay.
7. Cry in the shower. Wow, that sounds super depressing. And let's face it- separation can be too. But a good cry in the shower can be super cathartic, even relaxing. And when you get out, you're clean and ready to face the world fresh.

Favorite documentary series

Vocab of the day: 
Military: FMWR= Family Morale, Welfare, and Recreation