Lowering stress
All of my friends seem to be stressed out these days. There are endless reasons why people are stressed:
Money including inflation and low wages
Work issues like that annoying co-worker who steals your lunch out of the refridgerator
Health as in what is this lump/rash/pain I have and is it serious and when can I get in to see a doctor (there is a three month waiting list in my area)
Relationship issues like dating, marriage, blended families, or even toxic friendships and trying to figure out how to BLOCK that person everywhere
Poor food choices because let’s face it we cannot survive on Pepsi and Ding Dongs alone but that’s what the vending machine at work has
Chronic pain from poor posture or another cause like an autoimmune disease and that pain probably also hijacks your sleep
Failure to say “no” to people who drain you and activities you do not like to do
Illness or death of a loved one and I will include a divorce in this category because it is the death of your marriage.
What can you do to lower the stress in your life?
Focus on your health because that is the key and priceless item on this list. If you feel good and have energy, then you can take action and make better decisions.
Follow your emotions because that feeling of annoyance is telling you to say “no” or not answer the fourth call from your “best friend” today that wants to vent about her job.
Design your day according to when you are most productive. Everyone has their sweet spot of the day when they feel the most focus and energy so they naturally work better. Figure out that time and schedule a mix of small and large tasks so you use that productive time.
Plan alone time and no that is not selfish to hide from people and recharge. If you are an introvert or a highly empathetic person, you need to do that self-care to survive the day and avoid burnout.
A final note on health and processing emotions, based on my personal experience, these are tied together. Whenever I had issues with my health, I also was dealing with processing emotions. Primary care physicians will sometimes ask, “Are you seeing a therapist?” or “Who do you have to talk to about this problem.” Stress combined with grief really needs professional help. Remember to look for free help and hotlines in your area. Dialing 988 in the United States is the suicide prevention line.
