Stress is the feeling of physical or emotional tension. This 6 letter word can wreak havoc in our lives, but only if we let it. We all live with stress every day, yet it is almost this thing that exists in a far off place, meaning sometimes you really have to search long and hard for the little things that may be the root cause of stress in your life.
If you do not find healthy ways to handle stress, it will most certainly lead to poor mental and physical health for you. Have you ever been to the doctor because you are not feeling well and you are seeking answers, only to be told that the cause of your sickness is stress? If so, let’s start talking about some healthy ways to handle that stress in your life…
Stop. Look. Listen.
Some of the most important conversations you will have in life are the ones with yourself. Give yourself the gift of time alone and use this time wisely. Grab a yummy beverage, a pen and paper, start doodling, and allow yourself to be open and honest about what may be stressing you out. Write down some notes to help sort though those heavy thoughts. Some ideas about where the stress is coming from and how to handle it will be small fry – things like worrying about what to wear to Friday’s meeting or what to make for dinner when your in-law’s come over – okay that one might really stress you out! Other thoughts may take some time so that your brain can connect all the dots. And you know when that brain of yours is thinking, your heart is going to want to chime in as well – so let it. This is where that deep thinking comes in to play. At the end of these healthy times of self-reflection the goal is not to solve all of your problems, but rather to gain insight as to how your powerful self can take on what the world has thrown your way.
Not enough hours in the day.
When I made the decision to leave the company I dedicated myself to for over 15 years, it was a heavy one, one with many aspects to consider, and it was actually a very easy one to make. You see, I was not happy. The stress of my daily life was at an all-time high, brought on by work. The reality was that I had hit a burn out point – for more than 15 years I had voluntarily taken on the pain and grief of others and always set myself aside. Eventually my body and mind just couldn’t do it anymore, the stress had become too much. Once I took some time to list out what my priorities were in life, I knew that I was making the right decision. Work can certainly be a major stress factor in your life, let’s take a look at some others…
Family/Friends – you may be stretching yourself thin by trying to be everything to everyone. Sometimes saying no is a good thing.
Money – whether you are trying to make it or spending too much of it, money can be a major stress factor. Here is where a list of priorities can be of help.
Relationship Problems – no need to explain, we’ve all been there! While relationships will have their stress points from time to time, a healthy relationship will allow you to be open with your partner and have conversations to get you both back on track.
Time – you only have so many hours in a day and sometimes there aren’t enough. Go back to that list of yours and prioritize tasks, people, duties, and fun in an order that will be most helpful to you.
Let the clean up begin!
A healthy way to start tackling stress is cleaning. Yes, cleaning and de-cluttering your space can be a very healing thing to do. So, turn the music up, dance to the beat and sing along as you not only clean up your space but also help ease some of that stress tension.
Start a habit, a routine of excercising your body and mind. Start with a morning walk, some yoga, 15 minutes of stretching, or hit the gym if you’d prefer. Also, prioritize some time to read a book, work on a jigsaw puzzle or even the good old crossword in the newspaper. Remember to put your phone down and connect with your body and mind.
Eat clean. Remember the mantra, eat good feel good. Treating yourself every now and then is a must, but consuming too much processed and fast food will only add to the physical tension in your body.
Catch some Zzzzz’s. Go to bed earlier, get a good night’s rest and wake up earlier to start your day off right. Sleep is vital to coping with stress and your overall health. Set an essential oil diffuser in your bedroom and combine your favorite oils to set the mood for a restful night ahead. Create a bedtime routine to help your mind and body relax.
Slow yourself down. We all know that most days fly by becuase of how busy we are, so set some time aside to take a 5 minute break to refocus and reenergize yourself. This can especially be helpful as you transition from one mindset to another, like getting out of work and before picking up the kids.
Go on and plan ahead.
Start with a clean calendar, then add the following:
List out what your week/month/year ahead will look like.
List what you would like to make for dinner each evening this week.
Create a grocery shopping list based on your meal planning and activity calendar.
If possible, make meals ahead of time, or at least prep what you can without throwing too much on your plate at a time 🙂
Writing all of this down helps you to visualize what the week ahead will like. Even if a wrench gets thrown in there somehwere, having what you need on hand will help to make the week less stressful.
Take this away with you.
No matter whether it is big or small, take some time this week to sit down and pinpoint some areas where you can begin to clean up the stress in your life. Once you do that, create a plan of action and write it down. Prioritize yourself. Create some healthy routines to help you structure your days. Make changes that will positively affect your life.
Life is all about how you handle what is thrown at you and I know you will do great.
