6 Ways to Combat Stress

Leave a comment

If you are like me, your stress can be all over the place. The babysitter calls in sick. Then, you go to work, open your e-mail, only to find that a client is upset. You get home, and your kids are melting down because they’re hungry.

Does this sound familiar?

Yes, we’ve all been in those shoes. But what are you going to do about it? After all, life is not what happens to you. It’s how you react with what happens to you.

To help you get through these stressful moments, here are 6 ways to help you combat stress:

  1. Laugh

Yes, I said laugh. Funny, right? (No pun intended). In those stressful times, maintaining a sense of humor can relieve your stress in many ways. First, there are many ways you can benefit from laughter. Studies have shown that laughter can help relieve pain, bring a dose of happiness and also increase immunity. Also, it’s more difficult to stay stressed when you’re laughing. Maintaining a sense of humor is a great reminder that our stressors may not be as unbearable as they seem. So, next time you’re stressed, just laugh it off.

2. Aromatherapy

This is one of my favorites, and as easy as it comes. Studies show that certain types of aromatherapy are passive forms of stress relief – you don’t have to do anything, but go about your day as you normally would.

3. Meditation

This is becoming a mainstay for many because it brings so many wonderful benefits, as well as resilience against future stress. You should not shy away from this, if you think you don’t have time to practice, etc. All it takes is 5 minutes!

4. Breathing exercises

These can be done if you’re at work, at home, at the airport, or in the car. They can be done anywhere, with little training. Combined with other stress relief techniques, you will quickly (and easily) be able to combat forms of anxiety and high stress.

5. Exercise

Exercise provides so many health benefits, besides the obvious (toned arms, anyone?). It can be a quick outlet for frustration, and an excellent distraction to get your mind off of what you’re stressed about. It’s not always a “quick” way to relieve stress, however, there are so many options to exercise at your desk chair, or even in bed, if you don’t have time to get to the gym!

6. Change your environment

A quick change of environment always does a body good. If you’re in the office, step outside and breathe. If you’re at home, change rooms. Whatever environment you’re in, ditch it!

 

Stop. Slow down and breathe, mama.

Stop. Slow Down and Breathe, Mama.

Leave a comment

There is something so new and fresh about waking up in the mornings. Maybe it’s the clean air, or the way your house looks that tells a story about yesterday.

Stop. Slow down, and breathe, mama.

Maybe it’s the birds chirping a brand new day, or the way the plants grew from the night before. Maybe it’s the calm aurora that fills the souls of the home while still asleep, and dreaming about happiness.

One thing I’ve found about mornings is that they are all gifts.

Yes, a true gift from God.

Stop. Slow down, and breathe, mama.

You see, God already has your life planned for you. He knows what is going to happen to you today, tomorrow, and the next. He gives you new life, every single morning as that sun rises, and it is up to you to use it as God planned.

It’s not up to you, your goals, or your desires on what you want to do with your day, what you want to achieve, tasks you need to get done.

It’s God’s.

Stop. Slow down, and breathe, mama.

So, my hope for you today, is this:

I hope you slow down, and put that “to-do” list away.

I hope you stop, and connect yourself with the presence. Breathe in the air God has gifted you with today, and celebrate. Be grateful you get to wake up to another day with you, your spouse, your family, and maybe even your beautiful children who sleep peacefully.

I hope you feel this calm presence, and open your ears to hear God.

What is he saying? What are his intentions for you today?

Put your hands over your heart, and feel your heart beating. Feel the blood flowing through your fingers, the clarity of your mind moving you as you set Godly intentions today.

You see, life is not all about what we have. Living a life of abundance doesn’t mean having it all, and doing it all. It means living an abundant life through God, doing the things He wants you to do, serving others, and spreading joy to those in need.

Today, right now, I hope you slow down. Stop. Breathe the air. And listen to God.

Week 1 No Sugar Challenge

Week 1 + “No Sugar” Challenge

Leave a comment

Well, the first week of the “no sugar” challenge is officially underway, and let me tell you, I FEEL SO GOOD. View the YouTube video here: Week 1 + No Sugar Challenge

I do not want to sugar coat anything (see what I did there?) and tell you everything is all fine and dandy. It’s not. The truth is, this is SO HARD. Dropping sugar from your diet means that everything you eat is either (1) produce or (2) protein. Yes, you can opt-in with “sugar-free” items, but I do not go for those. Why? Because they usually contain aspartame. You can read more about the dangers of aspartame here.

So, yes, for one week, I survived a fruit, vegetable, protein (eggs, beef, fish), and nuts diet. It was hard, but the way I felt every single day was worth ditching the “white stuff.” The hardest part was on Day 3, which is when the body truly feels that it is lacking all of those processed sugars. My body felt like it was addicted to something on this day, it wanted everything that came in a package, especially Skittles.

However, after I got through Day 3, I loved it so much, that I knew this would be a permanent lifestyle change.

Here are the best things I’ve experienced on this “no sugar” challenge:

  1. Less Brain Fog
    If you know me, or if you don’t know me, you know that I have two small toddlers, who also keep us up all night, every night. Also, being a full time working mom, with a husband who travels a lot, doesn’t leave me a lot of room for self-care. This usually results in excessive brain fog. After I started incorporating healthier foods, I could focus more easily, and also think straight! It was a miracle!
  2. Less Joint Pain
    Oh, the joys of joint pain. My knees, my shoulders, my back, everything started to hurt more after I started having babies. But, after I cut out sugar, all of my joints felt less inflamed and more juiced up. It’s almost like having WD-40 sprayed all over those bones and tendons. I can play with my kids without things hurting, and I can kick butt in my workouts without feeling it too much the next day.
  3. More Energy
    Imagine your body feeling 20 pounds lighter instantly because all of those little cells have the nutrients they need to function at their best. Imagine your digestive track not having to work as hard digesting those pre-packaged foods. You feel on top of the world!
  4. Meal Prepping Doesn’t Suck
    Yes. Don’t believe all of those drama queens that say “meal prepping is so hard, it’s so messy.” No, it’s not. It actually makes life easier, and your wallet loves you for it. If I am a full-time working mom, with two toddlers and a hubby who travels, take my word for it that it REALLY MAKES LIFE EASY. Say it with me… “1. Make your meal plan, 2. Grocery shop, 3. Prep said groceries, 4. Enjoy NOT having to wonder what you’re going to cook every day!”

If anything, I hope this little snippet gives you some hope that you CAN eat healthy, that you CAN feel better, and that you CAN start feeding your body LIVING foods, not that crap that comes out of a factory (… organic or not, a machine still created it. GROSS).

Stay tuned for Week 2!

Why I Love WEDNESDAY’S, and You Should Too!

Leave a comment

Guys. We’re on top of the hump! It’s freaking WEDNESDAY and I LOVE Wednesday’s. There’s just something to be grateful about being halfway through the week. Monday’s and Tuesday are knocked out, and hopefully you kicked some “arse” those two days to give you momentum to kick even more “arse” the final days this week.

Also… if you’re dragging today, YOU NEED MORE H2O! Do yourself a favor, and go get yourself the Zulu water bottle! I found it at Target ($12-$15) and this sucker is a godsend if you 1. Love glass, 2. Have toddlers (hello you handy dandy little lock!) and 3. Carry your H2O with you everywhere.

Until next time!