10 Ways to Deal With Stress

Stress is an adaptive response that is the consequence of any action, situation, or event that places special demands on a person. When you feel threatened, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, which rouse the body for emergency action.

Recently one of our HerWay Girls was in the hospital for having some issues breathing. Aside from having asthma and other lung issues, the doctors said her stress levels were extremely high and that she needed to "relax" before she killed herself. RELAX? How in the world is one supposed to relax? Motherhood, being a wife, running businesses, and LIFE is stressful. So HOW does one "simply", relax? 

As women, stress takes a serious toll on our bodies. It can cause weight gain and/or weight loss (if we're lucky), our hair can fall out, we can become depressed, have insomnia, panic

attacks, high blood pressure, become impatient/short tempered, our bodies are more prone to diseases, and the list goes on and on. It's easy for others to say "Stop stressing, relax a little." But how?

Here are a few tips that we know of to help deal with stress, we hope they help you too!

1. PRAY

Okay okay we know what some of you are thinking "Oh Boy, 'God' and Bible stuff" but honestly a simple prayer can ease so much tension and help give you an instant sense of comfort and relief.

     - 1 Thessalonian 5:17 says "Pray constantly"

   - Matthew 6:34 says "So never to be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles."

2. MEDITATE

      Meditation is a relaxation technique used to quiet or ease the mind or to think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time. Play some soothing music or find a quiet peaceful area in your house or car (use your bathroom or car) and just turn off the lights, sit down and breathe. Try to take this time to clear your mind of anything negative and just enjoy the few moments of peace, think of things that make you happy or think of nothing at all.

3. SLEEP

This may be the hardest thing to do as a business owner, yet it's one of the most important. Sleeping is so vital for our body and brain and yet it's one of the things we get so little of. I can't just randomly take a nap, and when we put our kids to bed we don't want to SLEEP! We want some ME time or some me and hubby time, but we have to learn to make sleep more important and actually go to bed at a decent time every night whether you want to or not. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Sleep helps your brain work properly. While you're sleeping, your brain is preparing for the next day. It's forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information. If you're sleep deficient, you may have trouble making decisions, solving problems, controlling your emotions and behavior, and coping with change. Sleep deficiency also has been linked to depression, suicide, and risk-taking behavior.

Bottom line, get some rest!

4. DON'T RUN

Running from your problems only makes them worse. Although at the time it may seem difficult or impossible, facing and resolving issues as quickly as possible will help relieve stress sooner.

5. AVOID BINGE EATING

WHO DOESN'T LOVE FOOD. We want ice cream when we're happy and ice cream we're sad.

But seeking comfort in food can eventually lead to unwanted weight gain, and turn into an addiction.

6. PAY ATTENTION TO STRESSORS

One of the best ways to modify or reduce stress is to identify and eliminate your stressors. Now most of us know EXACTLY what stresses us out, but for those who don't, buy a journal and write down everything that causes you stress or gives you anxiety. Having knowledge of what stresses you out allows you to know what to avoid, or at least how to train yourself to calm down quickly when certain stressors approach you.

7. DO ONE THING THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

Simple, every day do just one thing that is solely for you and makes you happy!

8. STRATEGIZE

Okay, so you figured out what's causing your stress and there's nothing you can remove from your life but everything needs order, right? Come up with a strategic game plan that helps organize your daily, weekly, and monthly life. Giving you an opportunity to see what you need to do and put in the time for yourself. Even if you get 10 minutes each day to yourself, take it.

9. CHANGE

If you know what causes your stress and you can change it, change it. If your job is stressing you out, revamp that resume of yours and search for a new one! Money isn't worth your happiness or health. If your man is stressing you out, reevaluate your relationship, compare your pros and cons and see what you need to do to change your situation. If the state you live in is depressing, make the necessary preparations to move! Of course it's easier to talk about it but sometimes it's better in the long wrong to go ahead and be about it!

10. SEEK HELP

Stress comes in multiple forms, whether yours is physical and physiological i.e. heart palpitations, chronic fatigue, or cravings, or emotional and behavioral, like having severe anxiety, depression, or difficulty concentrating, if you are having trouble dealing with stress DON'T LET IT

GET THE BEST OF YOU! Seek help. Don't be afraid or ashamed to say to someone you trust "I need help!" It is okay to want and need help and should be encouraged and praised. It takes a strong person to say "I am not okay.".

What do you do to deal with stress?