WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE STRESSED

because it sneaks up on the best of us

The irony of this post is, I’ve been thinking about writing it for a few days and then conveniently had the most stressful 48 hours I’ve had in a while. HA. Life has a funny way of working sometimes.

HERE’S WHAT I’VE CONCLUDED:

You’re going to have the opportunity of stress no matter what. Life could get easier or harder but the opportunity for stress is always there. Stress can have more to do with our inner world than outer, sometimes.

I am a mom of 4 and the other day I switched my mindset: “I am so grateful that THIS is what is stressing me out right now. The sweetest kids to take care of, a beautiful home to clean, an amazing and growing church to be apart of, laundry to do because the people I love keep needing things to wear.”

When I was a wedding photographer for five years in my early twenties getting to travel the world and take pictures with my newly married husband and best friend, I was more stressed than I am now. Not because of the actual circumstances, but because of my tools to handle it all.

My proposition and question I will raise today, is this:

No matter where you are in life, there are going to be things that stress you out. (Some could be small… some could be really big, real things that suck and are so difficult… I’m sorry if that’s where you find yourself today)

What tools do you have to deal with your stress? What are your go to’s? Your rhythms?

HEALTHY TO DO’S WHEN STRESSED

+ stand or sit in the sun. Close your eyes, breathe

+ make a list of all you have to be grateful for

+ make your favorite meal, drink your favorite drink, turn up your favorite playlist

+ go for a walk or run

+ work out

+ have a cup of tea and sit outside

+ light a candle after evening clean up

+ talk to a friend about what’s on your mind

+ have a cup of tea with magnesium, light a candle and read a book before bed

+ turn on some good worship music very loud and clean the house

+ set the thoughts aside, do something from your kids perspective, be silly with them

+ be honest with your partner or best friend about what’s really on your mind

+ journal all the hard thoughts or to do lists that leave you feeling overwhelmed, sometimes just leaving them in one place feels like a helpful release

+ enjoy your favorite hobbies (mind are painting and gardening)

+ turn on your comfort movie, even just for background noise as you get some things done (mine is ‘you’ve got mail’)

+ be honest with yourself and the people you trust. Pretending you’re okay doesn’t help anything.

These are my real life, simple tools that help me a lot.

There is so much to be grateful for. What will you choose to focus on today? The beautiful things life has gifted you or the hard things you maybe can’t control?

Today I choose joy, peace, gratitude

Happy Thursday

xx rose