Stress is part of life. Anything from a life-changing event to the birth of a child to just simply being too busy can cause stress. Since we all have it from time to time—the trick is how we deal with it.
Go for a walk. Whenever I feel like I’m going a mile a minute without a second to breathe, I go for a walk. Removing myself from a stressful situation always makes things seem better than they did before my walk.
At work, this can mean a quick lunchtime walk around the block (with some window shopping along the way). If I’m at home, I’ll take 10 minutes to walk our dogs Missy and Pup Pup, or I’ll call a friend to go on walk so that I can clear my head, talk through issues, and just catch up.
Eat good food. That doesn’t mean a burger and fries. Traditional ‘comfort foods’ usually flood the body with copious amounts of simple carbohydrates that just make you feel awful.
It makes more sense to eat well-balanced meals that incorporate vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Your energy levels will remain more consistent than if you were reaching for junk food. Plus, you won’t have the added anxiety of knowing you just pigged out.
Hydrate. If I know it’s going to be a crazy day, I bring a big thermos of Tazo Calm Tea with me to the office. The chamomile blend is incredibly soothing, and because it’s herbal, it also hydrates. I try to stay away from too much caffeine because it can make me jittery.
Plan an end-of-day escape. It’s easier to get through a stressful day when you know there’s a reward at the end. I always look forward to taking a long bath with natural oils. Then I climb into bed and watch a good comedy. Sometimes, I browse through the tremendous stack of magazines by my bedside. I make it a mini vacation.
Indulge yourself. When I have time, I make my own chicken broth and sip that throughout the day. The broth keeps me relaxed and reminds me of my Nana’s chicken soup. And when the kids are in bed, there’s nothing like a small glass of red wine to curb the edge. Four ounces—no more—is perfect.
Write it down. On nights when I can’t sleep, I grab a pen and write down every task or concern that’s keeping me awake. Once my thoughts are down on paper and not swirling around in my head—I call it a brain dump—they seem much more manageable. And the next morning, I know exactly what to do.
