My favorite ways to reduce stress
Are you feeling stressed, overwhelmed and not sure how to change that? Well, let’s be honest it is not as easy as me saying just try this and everything will be fixed. It doesn’t work like that and I’m not going to pretend it does. Real life has real problems and that causes real stress. What I can tell you is how I like to reduce my stress and hopefully it inspires you to try a few of the things that I do or find ways that help you.
Stress pops up in different ways for me. Sometimes I find myself very tired and struggle with forgetfulness when I’m stressed to the max. I was juggling two businesses, care-giving for my grandma (struggling with Dementia) and uncle (who has developmental delays) who lived together, raising a teen and trying to pay all the bills for both households. So to reduce stress I planned a fun vacation that included camping, whitewater rafting, ropes course, and trips to shop in town. Only problem is when I am at this point like I said tired and forgetful kicks in. We were an hour from home and I realized I forgot my purse in my unlocked car. It had all my money for the trip and my ID. Stress tends to shut my system down. So in an attempt to reduce my stress I effectively made it much worse.
So now I try hard not to let it get to that point. My favorite ways to reduce stress now include morning devotions, praying, journaling and exercise. If I keep a regular routine of these four things I feel so much better and I am better at handling the stress when it comes my way. Psalms 37:5 says “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you.” When I start my day focused on what God’s word says and commit my plans to him in prayer, it also reminds me that I am not responsible for all of this alone. Psalms 119:105 also says “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Slowing down and taking the time to read God’s word allows for him to guide me through the day and focus my mind on what the Bible says instead of the chaos that the day ahead may be trying to bring my way.
Journaling helps get the things spinning around in my mind out. It also helps me lay out a plan for the day ahead. I feel much more prepared when I have a plan and can see what all I need to do in a day. Check out my free journal page here. I like to journal in the morning now as it helps me gain focus for the day. I can manage my time more effectively and prepare for the stress of the day.
Exercise is good for the mind and body. The key is finding the type that you like. I love to be outdoors. So I started doing exercise outside. I found that I like to kayak, snowshoe, ski, hike, and bike all because they are outside activities that are great exercises. I live where it is cold almost half the year, so finding things I like to do outside all year was very important to keep my body moving. I find that when I exercise regularly my mood and stress are easier to manage.
So if you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed I recommend finding ways to reduce your stress before it gets to the level of shut down. What daily habits can you put in place that could help you reduce stress? Try some of my favorites or think of your own, but I can’t recommend enough spending time in prayer. 1 Peter 5:7 “Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you. (TPT)”
