5 Stress Busters to Stay Sane in a Chaotic World

How many of us stop in the middle of a busy work day and ask ourselves, “What do I need right now?” In our fast-paced society, we aren’t practiced in the art of self-care. We push on until we run out of steam, get sick, or worn down. For those of us who are parents of young children or teens and work at demanding jobs, or those of us who are sandwiched in between our families and our elderly parents, the stress can build to the point where we no longer feel in charge of our lives.

As women, we are programmed from an early age to take care of others at the expense of ourselves. Simply put, when our tank runs dry, we have nothing else to give. We need to recharge. Here are five simple stress busters I follow to maintain my physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Do something physical everyday

I’m a morning person, so I start off every day with some form of physical exercise. It doesn’t matter what you do, walking, jogging, or working out at the gym, any form of movement helps us to relax and prepare mentally for whatever challenges lie ahead.

Carve out a free period once a day. If time is an issue because you are rushing out the door in the morning and rushing back to be with children and partner in the evening, take twenty minutes at lunch to walk a few blocks. It’s important to give ourselves space to free up our minds, even if it’s only for a few minutes every day.

Meditate

Sit quietly for a period of time. Our minds are so active they tend to work overtime worrying and obsessing about things that are out of our control. Writer Anne Lamott has a famous quote, “My mind is a bad neighborhood that I try not to go into alone.”  We all know the value of meditation and it’s calming effects, but how many of us take time out to do it? If sitting isn’t your thing, and time is limited, then just take a fifteen-minute walk. Follow your breath by counting your inhalation, and exhalation with each new step. This can help to shift your mental focus. It’s a simple as that. You may want to try it!

Stop and Smell the Roses

I have spent my whole life working on achieving my goals. My focus has always been on the future and not on the present. Part of this has to do with being a self-proclaimed perfectionist. Nothing I ever did was good enough. I mistakenly thought, if I just kept planning and striving, I could be perfect. I would achieve happiness in some distant, far off time and place. The truth is, when we stop and smell the roses, we begin to recognize the simple pleasures in our lives. Take time out to notice a flower in your garden, or go out to your favorite restaurant. Happiness isn’t something we achieve in the future¾ with practice¾it’s something we can discover right now.

Engage in creative endeavors

Play time is just as important as work time. There are many avenues to accessing our inner creativity. Painting, dancing, writing, and cooking, allow us to express ourselves fully. I love to cook, especially bread making. Kneading dough is a great exercise: it pulls me out of my head and into my body. Dance is another wonderful way to express ourselves. Put on some music and dance around the room. Take time to explore a favorite activity or hobby, and you will notice a difference.

Know when to turn off the news

This is a serious problem for a lot of people. Even though staying informed is important, much of the news can be triggering, which puts us on edge, as if we’re waiting for the next disaster to happen. I have a good friend, who, despite her best intentions, can’t stop listening, even when she knows it’s making her crazy. Here’s one simple practice I use to counter all the negativity. Choose a time to listen to the news, and when you feel it’s getting to be too much, switch your headphones on and listen to your favorite music. Change the channel. You’d be surprised how helpful this can be, especially when we want to calm down.

In truth we know what is good for us but we don’t listen. We ignore the signals and push beyond our limits. No one ever taught us self-care, but we can retrain ourselves. Start out small. Pick out one activity to try tomorrow and begin. Sign up for a class, or take a warm bath. Simply ask the question, what do I want right now, and listen to your answer. It’s okay to take time out for yourself. If not now, when?

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Cindy Rasicot is an author who lives in Pt. Richmond, California. Her memoir Finding Venerable Mother: A Daughter’s Spiritual Quest to Thailand will be published in May of 2020. To learn more about Cindy visit her website www.cindyrasicot.com.

FINDING VENERABLE MOTHER: A DAUGHTER’S SPIRITUAL QUEST TO THAILAND

When Cindy moves to Thailand with her husband and teenage son, she finds herself strangely adrift in a foreign culture, unprepared for the challenges she encounters there. On an impulse she signs up for a conference where she unexpectedly meets a Thai Buddhist nun, Venerable Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, who leads her on a spiritual journey from which there is no turning back. Along the way she discovers the beauty of the Thai people and culture.

This soulful and engaging memoir is the story of one woman’s journey of physical, emotional, and spiritual healing through her connection to a loving Buddhist teacher who fully accepts and nurtures her in a way her own mother never did. Finding Venerable Mother is a testimony to the power of faith, forgiveness, and love.

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Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips