Getting My Mind Right

     From time to time, I need to feel J's dominance (or, I need to feel my own submission, if you want to look at it that way) in ways and times other than just before, during or after a spanking. Once I recognized this need, I began thinking about and reading about different submission exercises and their uses.
     After talking about it with J, we decided to put a white board into use for communication of tasks. This made more sense for us when I was working because he would write a task or two on the board for me to come home to, but even now that I'm home again full time it's useful. He'll sneak into the room when I'm busy with something else and write on the board, or he'll write it before he goes to bed if I'm already sleeping. Sometimes the task is something that needs to be done around the house, other times it's something sexual, sometimes it's neither. Usually I have the whole day to complete them, but for certain things he sets a time frame.
     I really love the task board, and the whole concept/use of tasks in general. It helps me reconnect with my submissive side because I'm doing things that he specifically requested of me. I have to get in the right mind frame to complete the tasks, and afterwards we are both left feeling rewarded: I have served/pleased him and am now feeling submissive and content, he has had something done that he wanted done and he has a happy wife. 
     He will occasionally have me stop whatever I'm doing and just snuggle with him. While this doesn't seem like it would be an exercise in submission, he often does it when I'm paying full attention to something else. Sometimes I feel annoyed when he won't let me finish what I'm doing, but I quickly remember the point of it, which is to refocus my attention back to him. Sometimes he will text me when he is at work and tell me to do something. Usually these tasks are sexual related, i.e. send him a picture of something specific, touch myself and inform him when I finish, describe a fantasy etc.

     I really love when J implements submission exercises. I love submitting to him on all different levels, but it's somehow even more thrilling for me to submit to him in a non-sexual context. I feel so adored and taken care of and watched over. I am hoping that in the future, submission exercises will continue to play a part and maybe grow to play a bigger part in our relationship. I find myself wondering recently about the use of submission exercises in addition to a spanking in certain circumstances.
     I know that when I am not in the right head space before a spanking begins, it is much harder for me to submit. If I haven't been spanked in a long time (really spanked, to tears...), and we haven't been using submission exercies, I am most likely not connected to my inner submissive. There is a good chance she's been locked inside a wooden box and tucked into a dark corner somewhere in a feeble attempt to dispose of her. No matter how much I know deep down that I need to be spanked, my brain is going to be trying to convince me to get away, flee at all costs. I'm not going to be aware that I want or need it. I'm probably going to fight it. And if I know it's coming, I'll probably be cranky and bratty up until it's time for it to be taken care of. I'm not sure why this is, but I am sure that it indeed is.
     Anyway, I've thought that it might be helpful to practice some submission exercises before a spanking, to get my mind in the place it needs to be to submit properly. I've thought about ways that might effectively get me there, and so far I've come up with these: (I've stuck to non-sexual ones for the sake of the DD dynamic but we use several other exercises with strong sexual overtones at times)

• have me go to the room a little while before him to get ready. for example, put on something specific he'd like me to wear, assume a certain position, get out a certain implement etc
• sit down and write something about the reason for the spanking. if it's maintenance, write about the importance of remembering and honoring our roles, if it's for punishment, write the reason for the spanking and why the behavior can't/isn't be tolerated.
• kneel in front of him while he asks me questions and talks about our dynamic
• corner time

     Not an extremely impressive list, and I'm sure theres plenty more I cant think of at the moment (if theres any you practice that I didnt list, please feel free to leave them in the comments!). I think using one or several of these or other submission exercises could be beneficial to getting my mind right, should I be in a place emotionally or mentally where I'm not submitting fully or properly.