Would You Say You’re Stressed? Get W.A.R.M.

How are you holding up? Would you say you’re stressed?

Life doesn’t need a pandemic, a hurricane, or another life-altering crisis to be difficult. And when life feels more challenging, we tend to feel more stressed.  Stress is our body alerting us that something is uncomfortable and it usually doesn’t feel great. We can become out of sorts emotionally and physically. In fact, stress is the root cause of many chronic illnesses; so while some stress is just part of life, do we just have to sit back and take it?

Close your eyes and imagine you’re struggling in a pool. You have full intentions of surviving and are working as hard as you can to keep your head above water. Now, imagine that you are surrounded by life rafts. Do you think you’d grab one? And if it helped you just a little but you still needed more support, would you grab another and another until you were again comfortably above water? 

This analogy is perfect for when we are struggling with stress. We have tools all around us, available to help us overcome our current circumstances of  ____ (fill in the blank: anxiety, fear, depression, overwhelm, fatigue, etc). 

Why would we not grab a life raft?

Maybe it’s because you don’t know what’s available to you. Or maybe it’s because you’re overwhelmed with the overabundance of options online and don’t even know where to begin. 

So let’s make it simple. I came up with an acronym that helps me remember the “basics:” The next time you are feeling any of the low-vibe stressed or overwhelmed feelings, get WARM. Here’s how:

Water

Even slight dehydration (indicated by thirst) can cause you to be fatigued, have brain fog, and be irritable. NOT GOOD, right?

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. That statistic is a bit shocking given that we are surrounded by an abundance of clean water, accessible by simply turning on the tap.

Start every day with at least 20 ounces of water (coffee is good but try to start with water) and sip it throughout the day. Add citrus fruit if it makes it more enticing. 

There aren’t formal guidelines on how much water people need each day. It can vary by what you eat, your activity level, the climate, etc. But the good news is that thirst is a reliable indicator so when in doubt, trust that. I personally aim for at least half my body weight in ounces of water each day but that’s mostly because I do better when I have a goal to reach. 

Affirmations

Positive affirmations are a powerful tool to re-direct your brain away from a negative thought pattern. They can also reinforce goals and outcomes to your subconscious mind, making it more likely that you will attain them. 

I teach my clients that this is “telling your brain the truth.” 

Write down a list of affirmations (“truths”) when you are in a good mental state. Feel free to write them as you wish things to be (for example, “I am a successful journalist,” even if you are currently working your way up the editorial ladder). Then keep these in a place where they can be easily accessed during a difficult moment. 

Some of my personal favorites are: 

I am worthy to be loved.

I stay focused when distractions surround me.

I model an even-keel response to my children.

Life is working in my favor.

Connection is more important than winning an argument.

This is a temporary problem.

It’s their job to act like kids and it’s my job to act like the adult. 

God is in control.

Rest

Sometimes lack of sleep during a period of stress is like the question of “which came first, the chicken or the egg” because more fatigue causes a lower threshold to handle life’s challenges… and life’s challenges can cause you to lose sleep… and so the cycle continues. 

However, it’s critical for our overall vitality to ensure we are prioritizing sleep. Which has been the dilemma mothers have faced since probably the beginning of time. If sleep doesn’t come easily to you, there are some actions you can take, starting today, that may help:

Go outside and spend a few minutes in the sun when you wake up. This is a way to train your circadian rhythm.

Avoid caffeine in the afternoon. 

Incorporate 10 minutes of meditation or quiet reflection before bed. 

Leave your cell phone across the room, not beside your bed. 

Movement

Move your body to move your emotions. Most health professionals would agree that exercise is one of the most effective ways to manage stress long-term. Exercise releases endorphins that make you happy, reduce stress, and helps you sleep better. See a trend? 🙂

Movement can mean different things to different people and while it’s fine to be inspired by someone else’s accomplishments, it’s important to not fall into the comparison trap.  

I love to run outdoors as a way of releasing stress but one of my best friends says that pushing her body when her emotions are in turmoil makes her feel more stressed; she prefers yoga. 

Feeling stressed may be inevitable but struggling isn’t.

These are just a few “life rafts” to help you overcome stress and the negative effects of it in your life. As you know if you’ve been on the internet for more than 7 seconds, there are many other resources available to help if you feel you need more support. I hope that this insight into my personal strategy has helped you identify a few easy things that you can do on your own. 

Wishing you well… Namaste and God Bless.