In one of the iconic moments in the timeless musical The Sound of Music, Greatest Nanny of All Time (or G.N.A.T.) Fräulein Maria -- played by Julie Andrews -- helps the skittish Von Trapp children calm themselves during a thunderstorm by singing them a list of things that make her feel happy. These “raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens” help to distract the children from their fears of turmoil outside their window, and comfort them in the face of the impending German conscription of Austrians in World War II (hooray for metaphors).
Perhaps this same idea will work for calming yourself during the stressful times of the football bye weeks.