Lifestyle

Goodbye Stress!

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“Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.”   – Hans Selye
 
STRESS… Nobody enjoys it. Everybody tries to avoid it. But we all have to deal with it– everyday! These past few months I’ve been pretty stressed out. I’ve been taking some challenging summer classes, working a lot, and I’ve been dealing with a variety of health issues. I can get overwhelmed, emotional, irritable, impatient, and confused. So, I guess you could say I’m learning a lot about stress– the negative effects it brings and why it’s essential to limit stress.
Here are my top 5 tips for stress management:

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1. Treat yourself. It’s the little things, right? When life gets busy and it seems like there are 1,000 things to do, I like to appreciate the small things. A dark roast coffee from Starbucks on the way to class, dinner outside on the patio after a hectic day, a new water bottle (LOL I’ve been wanting a Camelbak for a while and finally ‘went for it’ on Sunday), a little hug and kiss from my dog, Jess, or my favorite show on Netflix with a few squares of dark chocolate. These are just a few of my ‘de stressing’ strategies. They give me the chance to sit back and smile. 
 
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2. Stay social. When I get busy and have lots to do, my social life seems to get put on the back burner. By the time I finish class, studying and work, I just wanna go to bed!! Anyone with me? But I’ve learned that prioritizing time with friends actually helps to relieve stress. Yesterday I decided to drive back into the city and head over to Whole Foods with a few friends. I didn’t stay too long, but it was definitely worth the effort. My advice? Carve out some time to hang out with friends!

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3. Limit stressors. We all tend to bite off more than we can chew. This summer I took on 13 credits and I’m doing a LOT of  babysitting. I’ve recently realized that it’s just too much work for me right now. I have to remind myself that “You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.” I knew I needed a little break, so I decided to drop 2 classes for the second session and pick them up later in the year. Being practical and realistic definitely helps with stress.

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4. Stay active. Staying fit can be a real challenge when you’re super busy. Who has time to exercise when you have a million other things to do? My suggestion? Focus on the little things because they really do add up! I recently got a FitBit and I’m kind of loving it! I’m always moving and I jump up and go for a walk any chance I get and I average between 9,000-10,000 steps per day! More steps equals less stress.

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5. Change your perspective. Life will continue to provide plenty of opportunities to experience STRESS. Deadlines, due dates, demands, and concerns of all kinds. The effects of stress on your body can be quite damaging. From headaches, tummy aches, high blood pressure, and pain, to skin issues, sleep problems, depression, and autoimmune diseases, stress can be pretty “stressful.” I’m so thankful I can pray about things and know that I am not alone. I claim promises from the Bible like this one. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) I always remind myself to, “do my best and let God do the rest.” Let’s encourage each other and remember that our reaction to stress can be more harmful than the thing we’re stressing over in the first place. 

How about you? What are your favorite ways to limit stress?

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8 Comments

  • Reply Claire @ My Pink & Green Life

    These are great tips, especially staying social and active. I always find that one of the last things I want to do after a long day at work is go for a walk, run, or pick up my free weights–but I feel SO much better after I do it! It also helps me sleep better, which in turn makes me feel less stressed out. Getting enough sleep is one of the top ways that I manage stress! 🙂

    June 28, 2016 at 1:23 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      You’re so right Claire!! Getting enough sleep is so important! Definitely a great way to help manage stress! And I agree, sometimes it’s hard to get up and get active after a long day, but I’m with ya girl- I feel so much better afterwards.

      July 10, 2016 at 11:09 pm
  • Reply Rach @ This Italian Family

    These are all great ways to handle stress!

    June 28, 2016 at 10:30 pm
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks so much Rach!!

      July 10, 2016 at 11:07 pm
  • Reply Kristy from Southern In Law

    There is no better stress buster for me than being surrounded by those I love! Like you, when I’m stressed I often feel like I want to do nothing at all – but I know once I’m with my friends and/or family I’ll be feeling SO much better!

    June 29, 2016 at 2:13 am
    • Reply Cailee

      YES!! I couldn’t agree more! I feel SO great when I do something social, but when I’m tired it can be a challenge not to just stay home! I have to remind myself how refreshed I’ll feel!! <3

      July 10, 2016 at 11:11 pm
  • Reply Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness

    Great tips! Stress is a topic that every single one of us can relate to. I’m currently working with a few clients to help them better manage stress, because it relates SO MUCH to your mental and physical health. I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been dealing with health issues, and hope that you get them resolved soon!

    June 30, 2016 at 12:41 am
    • Reply Cailee

      Thanks so much Nicole! And that’s awesome that you’re helping your clients manage stress! So important! Like you said, we can all relate!

      July 10, 2016 at 11:13 pm

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