Hello sweet readers!  I hope this post finds you feeling rested and calm.  However, I’m sure you may be just as overwhelmed as I have been lately. We live in a stressful world.  These days, many of us are expected to work longer hours for less pay. When we get home from work, it’s not time to relax yet. We still have to cook dinner, clean up, take the dog for a walk, maybe help the grandkids with their homework, and more.  In addition, you don’t have to watch the news long or read your Facebook feed past a couple of pages to feel the overwhelm from the news.

Maybe you have a very empathetic nature like I do.  You know the type. The waterworks usually come one 30 seconds into a Hallmark commercial and those SPCA and ADOPT me pictures on Facebook leaves your heart aching.  Now, compound that with all the stinking, horrific bad news which I won’t rehash here because I know you haven’t been living under a rock and you may be feeling a little chaotic.

If you’re dealing with stress in your life, you’re not alone. However, you can use these tips to minimize your stress and live a more relaxing and enjoyable life.

I found myself this week having re-implement the same strategies to calm myself down and bring to my spirit some inner peace.

 

Find Calm in the Chaos and Transform Your World

When you’re finally done doing everything, it’s time to go to bed just so you can wake up and do it all over again the next day.

Luckily, there are strategies you can use to help you minimize the stress in your life.

Not all stress is bad. We experience stress because it is actually useful. A little bit of stress keeps you motivated to get things done. Stress can also help keep you alert and being alert helps you avoid danger.

However, too much stress can have both emotional and physical consequences. So what can you do to help reduce the stress in your life?

Consider these ideas:

1. Get more sleep. This is easier said than done, but getting more sleep helps a lot when it comes to reducing stress.

• If you’re only sleeping five hours a night, simply going to bed three hours earlier probably won’t do the trick. Try going to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier for a few nights. If that works for you, do it again until you are getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.

2. Find some other ways to relax. Take a little “me time” whenever possible. Try these activities to help you relax:

• Go for a walk even if only for 5 minutes.  Appreciate nature or at least appreciate LIFE.

• Meditate, pray, read scripture.  I find just the act of writing out a scripture is soothing.

• Find a hobby and spend a little time doing it or reading about it.  I find Pinterest is such a wonderful tool to gather ideas.

• Listen to soothing music

3. Get more exercise. When you exercise vigorously, your body releases endorphins which are hormones that make you feel good.

• Exercising also helps you release pent-up energy and physical exertion makes you tired and will help you relax.

4. Get organized. If you start your day by making a plan and sticking to it, you’ll eliminate a lot of stress. Being pulled in a lot of different directions is very stressful, but when you stick to your plan, you can get things done by breaking them down into small, manageable pieces.
   

5. Set realistic goals. If you set goals that are difficult or impossible to achieve, you’ll be creating more stress for yourself. However, when you can achieve your goals and cross things off your to-do list, you’ll have a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.
   

6. Find someone to talk to. Simply getting something off your chest can give you a tremendous amount of relief and it’s much better than keeping things bottled up inside.
   

7. Talk to a professional. If the stress in your life is too much for you to deal with on your own, seeking professional help and talking to a therapist can be a great solution.  I have to reiterate.  I am not a doctor and I always encourage someone to not face the overwhelm alone.  Yes, prayer and meditation can help.  But please listen to your body.  You may have some imbalances that need professional help!

Lastly, but not least..

8.  Attend public worship.  I love to attend church where everyone there is concentrated on worshiping the Lord.  We all are not perfect, but we are worshiping the one who IS and my spirit finds the greatest comfort in that!

If you’re dealing with stress in your life, you’re not alone. However, you can use these tips to minimize your stress and live a more relaxing and enjoyable life.

Hugs and feathers from the nest~~()~~

Kim Steadman is the COOP (Chief Online Operating Person) for The Re-Feathered Nest. A place of encouragement for moms entering the Empty Nest Zone who are ready to RePurpose and ReDesign according to God’s purpose for their lives now that the kids have flown the coop. Kim can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheRefeatheredNest and on Google+ at +Kim.