The one thing that virtually all people have in common is the stress of living in this modern age. So much has changed in the last 25 years. Technology has impacted our stress levels as we are connected 24/7, and it leaves little time to focus on self-care. Besides the stress of technology, we take on the responsibilities of raising a family, making a living, and figuring out our place in this complicated world.
How We Add Stress in Our Lives
Stress comes from several sources. The first place most people think is work. We think of work as a source of stress because it is where making a living is essential to our well-being. There are daily demands, deadlines, and schedules to meet. In addition, most of us have to deal with at least one difficult person during our workdays, which only compound the stress.
Stress doesn’t end when we walk out of our workplace. Traffic itself can be stressful. Then the joys of raising children and marriage can add stress to our lives. It is common to come home from a difficult day only to face problems at home. The stress and anxiety keep mounting up.
There is good stress that adds value to our lives. This type of stress motivates us to move forward in a direction we want to create for ourselves. Our intention is one of self-care, even if it is challenging initially.
When we speak of stress, we usually mean difficult issues. Too much stress can lead to serious medical and mental problems if we don’t develop some coping techniques to deal with it.
Small Ways to Release Stress
Some small but effective coping mechanisms that you may find helpful to defray the stress in your life include:
Take a Break and Get Away
To put the issues, we have to handle in perspective, we have to get away from them for a while. If nothing else, just soaking in a hot bathtub with a good magazine and some happy music can wash away the high inner tension and let them swirl down the drain with the bubbles. Look for chances to relax and put those worries aside for a little bit. It will help you calm your mind, rest your system and be ready to deal with those issues without so much anxiety, which doesn’t help you at all.
Collaborate with your family
Your family doesn’t want to see you stressed out. They don’t always understand how much they add to your problems when they throw the day’s issues at you as soon as you walk through the door. Remember that they are stressed with school or work problems and relationships too. So partner together to create a little time to be a family and ‘love away’ that tension together. Everybody will be better at it.
Take time for your health
It’s strange but healthy food and rest are the things we need the most to cope with stress, and yet those are the areas of life that are most damaged if we let stress wear us down. So go back to basics and make sure you get good meals, good rest, and take care of yourself. It will make you a better worker and stronger for your family.
Stress can be a serious concern to your well-being. You are responsible for taking care of yourself — no one else. If you take action to keep stress from dominating your life, you are doing something good for yourself, which will only help you deal with problems and solve them with creativity and intelligence.
Your thoughts
What simple ways do you do to promote your self-care? It doesn’t have to be significant actions; rather, simple ways we say we are worth the time and energy to care for ourselves.
Women’s Group Topic
Women are generally caretakers; we need to ensure everyone else is doing well before caring for ourselves. What if everyone in the group shares small ways to care for themselves, and the rest of the group keeps each person accountable for self-care.
Be well,
Pat
“To fully enjoy the ‘richness’ of our lives, we need to stop long enough to visit with ourselves.”
(Pat Brill)
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