Anyone feeling stressed this time of year?
No? Just me?
While the holidays have ended, it seems that there’s also some stress that has lingered from the holiday season.
Is it possible to be stressed yearly? Monthly? Weekly? Daily?
I think so.
At times our mental health can take a hit. Perhaps this is in winter, and perhaps some may know this as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Maybe a look at the news, the weather, or even situations in your life bring this on.
How do you manage or cope with the stress brought on and carried over from the holiday season? For me, I am slowly learning (because I can be pretty stubborn) that I need to make sure I am not keeping in the stress, that I am aware of what I can and cannot control, and that I can make small changes to ease the seasonal stress.
- Nutrition: For me, my blood pressure and digestive system get all out of whack when I am stressed. I know this because sometimes it happens a few times a week, not to mention being pregnant also messes with my nutrition and stress level. Ways to combat that? Avoid carrying over the festive feasting season into the new year. Take care of your body, get that vitamin B, C, and D, and make sure you are drinking plenty of water (I realize that I am also writing to myself here).
- Move: exercise is a natural stress reliever. I have found that moving (even if I am just walking or cleaning) can reduce depression and anxiety. Getting those muscles moving can also release tension. Find a way to be active. For me, it is yoga. Am I great at it? No. Does it help? For me, yes, yes it does. I feel better, and I have tried to make sure I am moving/stretching before bed.
- Sleep: this is so hard to come by in our home. Sam struggles with sleep in an entirely different way than I struggle with sleep. I try to aim for 8-9 hours (as most of us should), but let’s be real. That is not possible every night of the week. What helps us? Dimming the lights–going to bed early, avoiding playing on the phone before bed, TV before (or in) bed, and deep breathing. This is where the yoga has helped me. I also use an app called Calm. Yes, I listen to bedtime stories every so often. And you know what…they.work.
Another stress reliever for me is spending time with family and friends. Laughing, talking through tears or stress, meeting for coffee and lunch dates, those help me through rough patches as well. Just the other day I was able to get out of the house for a few hours to have lunch with a dear friend and do work (yes! We both set up shop in Panera and WORKED). You never know how those little moments can make big stressful moments disappear or seem like a small thing you have going on in life.
I hope that you are recovering from the holidays and moving forward into 2019 with a full heart and mind. For us, we are slowly getting there. Our end to 2018 was not what we expected and we have had some rough spots, but I know with some simple nutrition, rest, and relaxation, we can make it. It might seem like the longest week (month or year) ever, but we can make it.
Cheers to a restful weekend!
