How to Deal with Stress

Mug from Mama Mugs

We've had a tough week, I'm not going to lie. My toddler got sick, then my husband got sick; I can slowly feel myself catching their cold. We learned that the family that moved into our childhood home and adopted our cat (to avoid an unnecessary, stressful move from small town to big city) had surrendered him to the Humane Society and he was not doing well. Then, the brakes on my car started making a very sketchy noise. Oh, and my website went down - yes, again. The issues should be resolved now (fingers crossed). It was Stress City up in here.

So, when life hands you a ton of lemons, how can you turn them into lemonade?
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Keep Your Perspective in Check

Don't let your inner pessimist take over - when stress sneaks up on you, reframe the situation to find the positives. I prefer to do this with a gratitude journal; you can find out more about mine here. You can also just spend 5 minutes expressing gratitude for every damn thing. I am grateful for the sun. I am grateful for coffee. I am grateful for my car. I am grateful for tow trucks. I am grateful for website support people. After 5 minutes, your perspective will shift away from stress.
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Girl, Move that Body

I swear, I put this in practically every blog post I write about mental health. But that's because there is a real correlation between your body and your brain! I'm not saying run a marathon or do burpees or force yourself into workouts you hate. That's just going to make you more stressed. Instead, find ways to move your body that are fun. 

It's been sunny here this week, so I took walks outside. I did some 30 minute workouts in my house, workouts I actually like. I didn't force myself into anything that didn't feel good. So, go to a spin class, if that's your thing. Do a YouTube workout. Just have a dance party with your family. It doesn't matter how you move your body, it just matters that you do.
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Looking for ideas for at-home workouts? Check out our favourites here - most of them are FREEEEEEE. 

 

Spend Time With Your Favourite People

Whether that's a night out with your best friends, a date with your husband, or quality time with your kids... make sure to step away from stress for some fun. I laughed until my stomach hurt watching my daughter finger paint yesterday and the stress of my website, my car, my head cold melted away.

I know this one is hard for moms. We tend to prioritize to-do lists and laundry and whatever else we've got going on above ourselves. But I promise you, if you can invest just a little bit of your time back into your own happiness, everyone and everything in your life will benefit from it.

 

Get Help If Needed

There are some things a good workout or a silly toddler just can't fix. If the stresses in your life are taking over your ability to actually enjoy your life, like, ever, reach out to someone who can help. Asking for help when you need it is the strongest thing you can do. 
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​How do you deal with stressful situations? Share your own strategies!