I Think I Figured Out The Key To A Healthy Life – Stress Management
STRESS. In the world today we have this understanding that a high level of stress is normal, or at the very least, acceptable. We’re almost rewarded for talking about our hustle, or our heavy workload. Recently, I’m decided to challenge that mindset with stress management.
I’ve spent the last 2 years trying to figure out why I’ve gotten sick. Whether it’s my back pain, anxiety, allergies or whatever else my mind comes up with – I wanted to know why. You should know by now – I spend a lot of time THINKING. {very annoying at moments.}
My grandma was 93 years old & kicking it. Watching some people age is brutal, that feeling usually starts when they start to lose function. Whether that’s mental & memory or physical & movement, seeing someone lose function is the same as watching them slowly go away. My grandma didn’t have loss of function, she was sharp & mobile. So I started wondering – how? Without revealing too much about her, because I don’t like to share other people here as I don’t necessarily think that’s my place, she didn’t have an easy life by any means. She didn’t have tons of money & a sharp exercise routine. She lost several children, (I can barely type that sentence). She spent years smoking & drinking & eating. She wasn’t everyone’s best friend. How the heck was this lady a strong 93 years old… & I’m a fresh 30 with aches & pains galore. On paper, it didn’t make sense.
STRESS.
My grandma had an excellent way of managing stress. She mourned, pushed through, and then she moved the fuck on… Jeez Louise. Read that again, SHE MOVED ON.
I have this horrible habit of sitting in stress & letting it consume me. It’s hard not to. The news, social media, commercials on live tv, sitting in a cubical, sickness, death, health, noise. I mean move me to a fucking farm plz! Off the grid! #goals
I can be pretty brave through stressful situations. I can manhandle a lot of them, step up to the plate & get through it. But talk to me a week/month later, I’ve vegetated in a pile of anxiety & stress that my subconscious decided was a good idea. I do NOT move on. I do not let it go. My stress is stagnant.
Any literature that I’ve read these past 2 years says the same 3 things as pillars to good health: STRESS Management, Healthy Food, and Exercise or Movement. Stress is always at the very top of the list. I ignored this information for an entire 2 years, I literally rolled my eyes to an article I was reading emphasizing the importance of stress management on health. Ugh whatever, stress again? Move on already. I got off the phone with my mom after she met my grandma for lunch & started thinking. She’s killing it at 93, better than I am. It didn’t make sense. She didn’t eat organic & kill herself in workouts throughout her lifetime – how was she so sharp now?
STRESS fucking management Katie. KNOCK KNOCK! Wake the fuck up already. I could no longer ignore it. So whether I wanted to admit it or not, I decided to start prioritizing my stress management. Sometimes I don’t even know I’m stressed until I have a panic attack. What the hell?! I took stress by the ball sack & am ready to manhandle it.
A Few Ways To Manage Stress
Yoga:
My number 1 recommendation is finding a good yoga studio & joining it. There, you’ll learn breathing techniques that you can use outside of class & you’ll have a consistent place to ground & meditate. To be present & take an hour out of your busy day to slow down & appreciate yourself. Signing up at a studio will hold you more accountable than free YouTube videos. HOWEVER, if you are committed to yourself & can keep up with the free videos – then that works too!
Therapy:
I use therapy mostly for anxiety but I’ve touched on the topic of stress a few times with my therapist. She definitely has plenty of tips to help manage stress, so if you find yourself wanting to relieve stress, go talk to someone! What the hell, why not? Everyone’s stress manifests itself differently & looks different – having someone to talk through what you’re feeling will totally help navigate the situation 🙂
Acupuncture:
For the brave warriors that want to try something new, try acupuncture. I started going for back pain but I’ve noticed it’s a great time to break up a busy day & be present. You can totally go to an acupuncturist & tell them you want to manage stress & they’ll guide you. I always use the time the needles are in me to meditate & focus on my breathing. To me, that’s multi-tasking.
Journaling:
This is a new one, but I started word vomiting in the back of my daily journal. Literally no rhyme or reason. No system or instructions here. I carry my journal with me everywhere because I store my daily lists in it, because of that I always have it on me. Whenever I have a lot in my mind I scribble it on paper. It’s not cute handwriting, it doesn’t usually make any sense, it’s just words from my brain onto my paper. I used to think this was stupid but I literally feel like my life changed in the few minutes I write. Plz try this!
Organization:
If you get organized & stick to your calendar & task lists – of course you’ll feel better. If I’m having a super busy week or a crammed agenda that feels overwhelming, I’ll calendar the day to the minute. That way I can literally SEE there’s time for everything so I don’t need to be anxious or stressed. And if I notice there isn’t enough time in the day? I have a talk with myself & remove something. That way I’m not rushing all day or week from one thing to the next making mistakes, showing up late, and forgetting important things – causing stress.
And of course, Wafiq got on board with stress management. Our stress shows itself in very different ways, which is why I know you reading this might not be able to relate exactly to me, but if you have stress in any form – take care of it. For some people that’s anger, for others it’s anxiety, or it can be outburts or binge eating. Stress can show itself in many ways!
Part of managing stress is caring about yourself first. I think this may have made my grandma a few enemies. There are 1,094 things in your daily life that are going to offend someone else, or maybe even hurt their feelings, or let them down but ultimately this life you’re living is 100% yours to live. One of the many reasons I love Wafiq so much is because he understands this the same way I do – we as individuals are the priority. If we can love ourselves, we can love others better. The choices you make are yours, the actions are yours, the results are yours to take ownership of.
I’ll leave you with a sweet story that helped the importance of stress management click:
One day my grandma went down to eat lunch at the assisted living center she was at & her 3 other friends that she ate with every day were not there. A woman working there came & told my grandma they were in the hospital & had passed away. My grandma was really sad that day. The next day, she went down to eat & the woman working there said there were 3 new people to the assisted living center. She asked if it would be ok for them to sit with her as they might need help transitioning to the home. She thought my grandma would be the perfect person to help welcome them. My grandma called my mom to say – she made 3 new friends. She was sad all 3 of her friends passed away, but she was happy to meet 3 new ones. Rather than look at herself & cringe thinking she’s next, or sulk in her age & the mortality around her, she embraced the day & cherished the opportunity to meet new people.
I’m hoping to take that part of her with me.
I love you all & want you to take care of your sweet ass beautiful selves. Even your subconscious minds, cuz I’m cool like that.
Be thoughtful
Xx