Stress, stress…go away…

Stress!

We all have it right ?

I often find myself so wrapped up in stress that I neglect everything around me. Between work, worrying about finances, and being a single mom of a preteen, it definitely gets overwhelming! Sometimes there are days where I just don’t have the energy or motivation to do anything! When it gets to this point I take a step back and ask myself, “How did you get here, Terri?”.

How do I know I’ve become too overwhelmed? Most times our bodies are like cars. My check engine light comes on. If I ignore it long enough, all the other lights will pop on as well. I tend to gain weight, have headaches, sleepless nights and experience extreme fatigue.

It is very important to find ways to relieve as much stress as you can. Here are 5 things I do to help keep my check engine light off:

1. Meditate - 5 minutes minimum. It will make a world of difference! Give your mind and body that break it is begging for! Even if its inly for a couple of minutes. If you’re like me and aren’t very good at it, find a guided meditation wherever you stream.

2. Clean up - I know this sounds like work and not very relaxing. Trust me on this one. There is no better feeling than relaxing in a clean home.

3. Read a Fiction story/book - Give your racing mind a break. Escape to your imagination while reading a story that is completely made up.

4. Journal - Find your favorite spot, and get those thoughts out on paper. Make this a daily habit. Even if you don’t have anything important to say. No need to keep all of that stress bottled up.

5. Treat yourself - Have a self care day. And this doesn’t have to cost any money. Just set aside some time where you do things that make you feel relaxed. It could as simple as a bubble bath and a glass of wine or cooking yourself a romantic dinner.

I hope these things help. I try to make sure I’m paying attention to what my body is telling me. Life happens! So stress comes with that. Its all about how we handle that stress.

What things do you do to help with stress?