Tips on How to Deal with Stressful Seasons

These are unprecedented times we live in and we are constantly bombarded with things that can skyrocket our stress level.  Continuous high stress levels are very hard on your body and can lead to adrenal fatigue and weaken your immune system.  I wanted to share some tips on how to deal with stressful seasons.

Stress Busters:

• Start your day off right

  • Get up and make your bed.  Studies show doing this puts you off on the right start by accomplishing something first thing in the morning.
  • Get dress and don’t just lounge around in your p.j.s all day.  (Yes, some pajama days are good, but getting yourself ready physically puts you in the right frame of mind for the day.)

• Physical exercise

  I have many friends that love to run or go to the gym everyday, but I am just not one of them.  Exercise doesn’t have to look like your friend’s workout plan.  You don’t have to run a marathon or walk 10 miles, just get yourself moving.  Find what works best for you.  Remember comparison is the killer of joy.  Find what you love.  Exercise is a great stress reducer. Here are some simple ways to get started:

  • Take a walk around the block or ride a bike
  • Do a free yoga video on YouTube (I personally love Tara Stiles)
  • If you have kids at home:
    • play soccer, baseball or basketball
    • make a sidewalk chalk obstacle course
    • visit a new park
    • take a fishing trip
  • Try a new class!
    In December I joined my kids on the taekwondo mat.  My son is currently a 1^st degree black belt at 9 years old.  After watching him the last 4 years it was time for me to get off the sidelines and join in.  It is not as easy as it looks, and I had the advantage of knowing the lingo before I jumped on the mat.  My daughter and I are starting off slow with two 40 min classes a week and we are having fun.  If you’re  near the Conroe/Woodlands, Texas area check out our studio at CoxATA or find an ATA taekwondo location near you.

• Mental Inventory

  Take inventory of what you are watching a listening to.  If you are constantly feeding your mind with the news, and negative content it can impact your mood and emotional well-being.

  • Limit the amount of news you see/hear
  • Limit social media time
  • Add positive messages into your life (Read a good book, listen to an inspirational podcast)
  • A favorite book of mine that has helped me keep my mind in check is Joyce Meyer’s Battlefield of the Mind.  This book was a game changer for me during the stressful season in which I walked through infertility

• Food/fuel

  Watch what you are eating. In stressful times many of us do one of the following either stress eat or not eating.  I personally find myself stress eating.  So, I have to watch what I am eating and the frequency.  One thing I do is chew gum.  Check out my blog about the benefits of Xylitol gum.

  • A great guide for your plate is to have a protein the size of your fist, a fruit and vegetable at each meal.
  • Choose a fruit instead of junk food when you have a craving. I heard it once said if your really hungry you will eat an apple, if you won’t eat an apple in place of that junk food craving you are not really hungry.

• Pray / Meditate

Take a break and quiet yourself.  Spend time in prayer and pouring out your concerns to God.  He is with you during this season and always.  If you don’t
have a relationship with the Lord please feel free to email me and we can set up a time to talk about it.

Schedule quiet time in your day.  Whether you start your day off with this time, its at lunch or the end of the day plan quiet time into your life.  In those
moments step away from your cell phone, computer and others.  Take 10 deep breaths inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.  If
you are having trouble stopping your brain from thinking about what is stressful in this season, then stop and make a list of things you are thankful for.
Gratitude always changes us.

I know these tips are not new inventive ideas, but just a reminder of how to help ourselves deal with stressful situations in our daily lives.  Remember stressful situations will come and go throughout our lives.  It is all in how we handle them.

Have a less stressful day!

-April

PS Check out some of the recipes I have posted on our blog.  Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, and Pinterest