Discover Tips To Manage Stress and Control What You Can Control
The world around us is filled with an overwhelming amount of chaos, unknowns, pain and suffering. Some days it can feel manageable, and others it can feel crushingly heavy. When I heard the times we're in referred to as a "Corona-coaster" I believe I literally said out loud YAAAASSSS - it's so true! So the big question I'm plagued with daily is how to manage the stress I'm dealt? And how do I objectively look at what lies before me, and determine what I can control about the situation, and what I can be at peace leaving behind? So that's what we're going to dig into today, my tried and true methods for managing stress and focusing on what you can control. I'll simplify and break down three areas and ways you can fuel yourself. The best part is these can be done any time, anywhere, so without further adu let's dig in!
Fuel Your Body
When you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed the last thing you want to do is eat healthy nutritious foods. No way, hand over the chocolate and comforting snack foods, thank you! Go easy on yourself, you have enough on your plate, so maybe cooking healthy meals isn't achievable today. Don't beat yourself up, know that you're human and cannot do it all. In addition to the nutritious meals you do give your body, I'd suggest adding in pharmaceutical grade supplements to help manage your stress. During these times your body is taxed and can often feel depleted. When this happens, your body often needs more support that nutrition alone can support. A life-saver during this time has been my regime of Full Script supplements. I actually do take them every single day, and I can tell a difference if I don’t. I highly recommend exploring options on my Favorite Things page.
Fuel Your Mind
What are simple ways that you can free your mind from racing thoughts that continue to play on repeat in your head? You know it's not serving you to have this endless loop of fearful thoughts running thru your brain, but how do you make it stop? For me, I find the most relief when I can find stillness and quiet. Admittedly this also sounds the least appealing in times of overwhelm. The natural inclination is to zone out and disconnect. But time and time again I've proven to myself that as little as a few minutes of removing myself from the chaos, will bring me back to feeling good. Chaos breeds chaos, so for me when my mind is cluttered and out of control, it feels like that is the same in my house and with my family & work. Can you slow down and go sit outside to take a few deep breaths? Maybe you can put on headphones and listen to a 5 minute guided meditation? Perhaps you can put on your favorite song and walk around the block. Experiment, there are no wrong answers, but these are a few that work for me and I hope they do for you as well.
Fuel Your Soul
Our souls long for joy, and with the times we're in, joy can feel scarce and hopeless to find. What would happen if you gave yourself the permission to ask yourself "what would bring me joy right now?" and then truly listened for the answer. I'd bet the answer that comes to you is something completely doable in this moment. Maybe you need to feel connected and loved, so you can get a big hug from your spouse, or cuddle from your child. Or maybe you feel depleted, and you need a big glass of water and to feel the sunshine hit your face. Whatever your answer is, don't judge or doubt it, simply try what comes to you. By listening to our own inner voice of guidance this trust fuels our soul and grounds us back in our body.
Consider these ideas of fueling up over the next week, and experiment with the options. Maybe one day you focus on fueling your body and another you work on fueling your mind. Be flexible and give yourself permission to explore. This is a form of self-care and preservation for the times we're in. As I've said many times before, if we don't take care of ourselves first, we will never be able to show up for our loved ones in the ways we want to. So take care of yourself and remember - self care is not selfish!
If the messages shared today hit home with you, I'd highly recommend checking out last week's blog "What to do when you're not ok." This blog will share an honest look at what it feels like when you're not ok, and more importantly tangible steps to take to support your holistic health.