In the last quarter of 2020, I cannot tell you how many times I heard, “I can’t wait until 2021.”  Now here we are just a few days in and people are just as stressed, if not more so, than 2020!!!

There is still craziness in the world.  People are still dying from COVID, some people are still without jobs, not getting along with family, pressured from the job if they have one, struggling to make ends meet, take care of children.

My clients are fighting to hold it together, barely feeling they have enough time to become healthier.  Then many people I have spoken to recently feel like they need to get healthier but it’s not the right time with everything they have going on.

I can totally appreciate that.  Until you are ready, no one can force you to do anything, but at the same time, it is scary and sad.  If there was ever a time to get healthy, it’s now.

And it doesn’t matter the income level, age, or profession.  Some with the best opportunities are super busy and feeling the pressure too.  People are going through tough, tough times, yaw!

I am not exempt from the feelings of crazy either, no human is.  For me, this bout started the third day of the year.  I woke up not feeling quite myself.  I had a cough and my throat felt a little funny.  On top of that, I was lying in bed thinking, “Oh snap!  How in the world am I going to get done what I need to get done?  Am I good enough to get it done?  Did I make the right decisions?  Should I travel right now?  Could my symptoms mean…..”

And I remembered to use my tools.  “Stop”, I said to myself in a loving but firm tone.

“You are not going down that street this morning, lady!  Sit up and begin your meditation.  Take breaths and calm yourself.”

So I drank some water and set my timer and began my practice.  I slipped back into thoughts of what, when, who, how at times, but each time I became aware I was doing that, I brought my attention back to a calming surrender of consciousness.

Afterward the meditation, I got up and consciously throughout the day focused on what I have to be grateful for, taking care of myself, and who I could bless within the scope of the day.

I realized I had not gotten enough sleep the two previous nights and made a promise to get to bed early.  Items on my to-do list had to roll over to the next day, then the next I had to prioritize and not compromise on getting sleep, my nutrition, and hydration.

Each day I could feel myself feeling more like myself.  My throat and fatigue have gone.  I feel joyful despite all of the chaos going on.

In the same way, if you are feeling stressed the heck out avoid going down the rabbit hole of more stress by doing the following:

  1. Talk to yourself and use a word like “STOP”, and think of another thought that is more loving, encouraging, empowering.
  2. Make sure you are drinking enough water and eat to fuel your mind and body. Certain foods we eat when we are stressed cause inflammation, elevated blood sugars, and compromise the immune system.
  3. Go for a walk or do some form of exercise. Getting fresh air or just getting the body moving can do wonders for your soul.
  4. Avoid conversations with people obsessing over the very things that are causing you anxiety or sadness. You don’t have to engage, you know.
  5. Connect with a community of people who are going to speak life to you, encourage you, and support you, and maybe have constructive ways of dealing with situations instead of fueling a fire.

Any one of the strategies could be the one that immediately snaps you back into a better space.  One probably resonates with you more than the others.  What was your fav?  Comment below.