Simple Ways to Cope with Stress

I’ll be the first to admit that I let stress and worry get to me. I freak out, talk it out with my Mom, and then realize I’m not in control of anything and finally calm down. You’re probably a bit like me; this Covid-19 pandemic has heightened your levels of stress just by reading the headlines and taking a trip to the grocery store. Throw in kids home from school and daycare, job losses, businesses closing, and fears for our healthcare workers…well, it’s overwhelming.

I’ve been working harder this year to stop worrying so much about things I can’t change. And while I fix my eyes on Jesus for my assurance, there are still some small things I’ve discovered help me feel less stressed. So, here we go…

1. Lullabies. I know this sounds weird, but I noticed when putting my son to sleep that the lullabies I play actually calm my nerves and make ME sleepy. I’ve started listening to them all by myself during the day when I feel myself getting frayed, and before bed. My favorites are the Twinkle Twinkle Little Rockstar lullabies, which I made a playlist for on Amazon Music. They take popular songs and turn them into sweet, soothing lullabies. My go-to’s are their lullaby versions of Fleetwood Mac hits, the La La Land soundtrack, and Disney classics.

2. Stretching. I use my Peleton to find stretching classes, but you can google tons of them on YouTube. I like to stretch right when I get out of bed each morning. It does wonders for my stress levels, especially if I know it’s going to be a super heavy news day at work. Stretching calms you down, makes you feel more relaxed, and just plain feels good.

3. Listen to someone who lightens the load. I am a HUGE Bob Goff fan. His books and interviews always make me feel more optimistic and happy. His perspective on life fills my heart with hope. (This interview with Bob Goff is an excellent one.) If there is someone motivational you like, you can probably find plenty of podcasts or YouTube videos where they are interviewed or giving a TedTalk. Those little snippets are helpful when you’re feeling low and don’t have time to consume an entire book or audio book. Listen when you’re in the car, sitting at home, or right before bed.

4. Epsom Salt Bath for the win! My naturopathic doctor drilled it into my head that a magnesium-rich epsom salt bath is the cure for many things, and he is right. It soothes your body and calms your mind. It can help you sleep better, too. If you’re someone who isn’t interested in taking CBD products or melatonin to help you sleep and you can’t stop your mind from going 90 mph, epsom salt baths are a wonderful alternative. (I like this one.)

5. Write it all down, type it, whatever. My husband and I decided to start a Covid-19 Journal, writing down the strange things we are living through right now. Before our Bible and prayer time together, we list the things about this experience that are standing out, including the daily restrictions that continue to mount. One day, our kids and grandkids will ask us about this time, and we will have all the details about what we thought or felt. (I wish my grandparents had kept a journal of what it was like living through WWII!) Writing down everything that has us feeling uncertain and stressed makes it seem less daunting, and it’s a place we can leave those negative or scared thoughts.

6. Have a melt-down. Since this pandemic has transpired, many people have said things like, “this too shall pass” and “You’re going to be okay“. While both of those things are true, they sometimes ring hollow. Carving out time to have a meltdown isn’t always a bad idea….especially during this season. I really enjoyed Max Lucado’s video about this, which you can watch here. He explains why a meltdown might be exactly what some of us need right now to relieve the stress and get on a more hopeful path.

7. If all else fails, retail therapy. If you’re lucky enough to have some extra cash to spend during this time, making an online purchase to give yourself something to look forward to can be a nice treat. I’ve been eyeing all the Southern Grace spring styles, which you can see in my pics above. I am wearing their super soft “You can have your own space, cowboy” t-shirt and yellow lace kimono! They also have some great Easter themed and faith themed shirts if you are looking for something to fill an Easter basket.

Those are my current suggestions on de-stressing. I hope and pray things turn around soon and we can get back to celebrating our blessings together!

3