After the past year we’ve all experienced, I think most of us are probably looking for a fresh start.
2020 definitely brought it’s share of stress for a lot of moms I know. Some lost jobs and loved ones, some personally battled the virus, most had their routines completely disrupted, and many experienced some degree of cabin fever and isolation which led to sadness, frustration, and overwhelm.
Turning the calendar over to 2021 didn’t change much in most of our lives, YET, but hope is on the horizon!
In order to have a different experience, though, we must decide to do things differently.
Sounds simple enough, but sometimes stress feels like a wrecking ball that is knocking over every area of our lives. So, where do you start?
First, decide how stress is affecting you personally. Look at the various parts of your life and determine where it is showing up the most.
- Is it interfering with your sleep?
- Is it affecting your relationships?
- Is it causing muscle tension/pain?
- Is it causing you to stress eat and gain unwanted weight?
- Is it causing you to get stuck in negative thought patterns?
Once you pinpoint how stress is impacting you, you can develop a plan of action to take back control of your days.
Start looking at your habits and see which ones may be contributing to your stress symptoms the most.
- Is staying up late to watch the news robbing you of much needed sleep?
- Is preventing to plan your day causing you to feel completely overwhelmed to the point you’re in tears?
- Is not taking a break to do something you enjoy making you snap at your
husband or kids for no apparent reason?
Once you know what’s not working, decide which area you want to focus on first.
If you want to focus on improving your sleep, what is one action you can take today that will help you to get the recommended 8 hours? Perhaps it’s as simple as setting a timer 60 minutes before your head hits the pillow, so your body can begin unwinding naturally, preparing you for a restful night’s sleep.
Finally, once you decide on an action plan, decide you how you will commit to it everyday so the simple changes you are making will move you toward the energized, patient, and focused version of yourself you know and love.
If you’re ready to commit to relieving your stress by changing your habits, I invite you to join my new, Free Community, Stress Relief Habits Club for Moms, on Mighty Networks where I offer strategies for conquering stress so that you can take back control of your life and make 2021 a year to remember!
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