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Do you ever have those moments where life can just be so overwhelming? You have so much to do that you can’t even begin to figure out where to start?
You try, but the tension & stress quickly take over? That is where I am this week, & this is why I writing this post to you all! After struggling with being overwhelmed, stressed, & tense for quite some time, I have finally figured out how to ease tension & stress fast & effectively.
With 5 kids of all different ages & a husband that travels regularly for business, I know that crazy feeling of tension, stress, & feeling overwhelmed ALL too well! I say it is character building, but we ALL know I don’t need any more character! 🙂
You would die laughing at me most of the time, because things in my house get a little crazy! This is definitely going to be the subject of one of the books that I will write, that is for sure! It may be more of a comedy than anything else we will just have to see how that pans out!
Today I am going to share with you just a tad bit of my craziness, in hopes that it may comfort you or at least give you a smile! I know all of us have our own ‘crazy’ & of course I would love to hear yours as well…but I will start here for now!
There is never a moment of silence in my house! Between the many kids that live here, people visiting regularly, house guests ALWAYS, my husband & I both primarily working from home, 4 dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, horses, fish, & a turtle…it is NEVER quiet! And there is NEVER a dull moment!
Just within the last 24 hours we have had to visit the vet, my son had a concussion, the horses were naughty & escaped my yard, they went for a run down our street, & I know they were trying to find out if the grass is really greener on the other side of the fence (it is NOT)! We finished prep on the motorcycles for the boys upcoming ride, the bikes left, made 4 trips to the airport, written 4 articles, helped in the classroom, & I have taken 4 classes!
From now until Saturday, I have 3 soccer practices, leadership meetings, an all day field trip, finish making the trunk or treat decorations, buy costumes, candy, attend trunk or treat, pick up guests flying in for my sons engagement party this Saturday, make 70 bread bowls, 70 plus cheesecakes, create a Halloween fog drink, soccer games, oh yes…work, finish a proposal for a school, start my new e-book, write another post, clean the house & then off to the party we go!!
I know we are ALL like this, but it is no wonder that we get ulcers & have a hard time sleeping!
Right? I know because I have suffered from ulcers off & on for years! They are painful & it is definitely not much fun! Because of this, I have been working on ways to overcome that stressed, tense, overwhelmed feeling & here are some things that I found!
First of all, I want to state that I am not one for resting or taking it easy, I really feel that I thrive on craziness!
It is when I feel I am at my best, however, there becomes a point where that is not healthy either! Because I am so tightly wound, or ADD (LOL), many of the most beneficial tools for me to use like, yoga & meditation are very hard for me & very time-consuming!
I encourage you all to use some type of meditation and/or yoga because they truly are the best forms of keeping your stress levels down & keeping healthy! I am going to challenge myself to do this soon, I promise! But if you are in a pinch like me, these simple & quick techniques have been helping me out tremendously! So here you go!!!
How to ease tension & stress fast & effectively:
1. Take a deep breath!
Right? Sometimes when we are so busy & overwhelmed with life we just forget to breathe!
I found myself in this position yesterday! I had to literally turn off my computer & focus on taking 5 deep breaths! It something I had to force myself to do, but it immediately helped me! I promise it will help you too!
First, I want you to close your eyes. Then take a deep breath in for 3 long seconds. Make sure to concentrate only on your breathing. Hold your breath for 3 seconds, then exhale SLOWLY for 3 seconds.
I want you to repeat that 5 times.
Focus on how it feels, how it calms your mind, & how your entire body relaxes! If you are starting to feel the benefits from this, then repeat the process another few times. I guarantee that it will calm you & get you relaxed, centered & less overwhelmed.
2. Loosen your shoulders!
Sometimes when I look in the mirror it looks as though I have no neck! Like I said before, I am little crazy & I never slow down! All of that tension gets stored in your neck & shoulders, so we need to pay attention to that!
My massage therapist laughs at me, as he is torturing me stretching my neck & shoulders! I am being proactive now because that torture isn’t as fun as it used to be! Let’s help you to stay out of that position too! This is what he taught me & it works amazing!
After you have finished your breathing exercises I want you to sit up straight.
Move your head from side to side. Do this nice & slowly, repeat 3 times.
As you are doing it, really feel that stretch in your neck. Make sure your posture is good & you feel that pull, even in your shoulders.
Next, move your head side to side, but having your ear touch your shoulders on each side.
Repeat this slowly 3 times. You should be able to feel this stretching your neck & shoulders. Each time releasing more stress & tension!
Last, move your head SLOWLY from front to back. Making sure to press your chin against your chest, then back as far as it is comfortable for you! Really concentrate on doing these movements slowly, while concentrating on your breathing!
You’ll feel so much better if you repeat these steps!
3. Make a quick list of 3 things that you are grateful for RIGHT now!
As you all know I always fall back on these darn lists of gratitude because they WORK!!!
Honestly, they have gotten me through many tragedies such as deaths, fires, illnesses, etc.
So, on a day where I have too much to do & it becomes overwhelming, gratitude is my go to! It is PROVEN way to help ease my anxiety & emotions with a 100% success rate!
After you have done your breathing & stretching grab your phone, computer, or a piece of paper & start writing what you are grateful for RIGHT now! It doesn’t have to be long or extensive, but write down at least 5 things you are grateful for in that moment!
Yesterday, I was focusing on the 30+ things I had to get done & was really starting to feel that tension. I stopped what I was doing, took a few very deep breaths, stretched & wrote this list (excuse my messy writing):
These notes are ALL over my desk & in EVERY notebook! The more you use gratitude the less stressed you will be, I promise!
Repeat “I GOT THIS!”
I know what your thinking…I know it IS crazy, but it will help! This is my motto for everything! I know that every problem has a solution & if I BELIEVE in myself, I know that I CAN get anything & everything done!
Looking back through the years my success record is pretty dang good, & I bet yours is too! So, instead of getting all worked up, telling yourself that there is NOT enough time in the day, or that you’ll never get this done, say, “I GOT THIS!”
I promise you’ll feel better & you’ll start figuring out a way to get it all done! Before you know it WILL ALL be done & you will feel amazing!
Words & thoughts are so incredibly powerful, you must ALWAYS remember, ‘thoughts are things’ so choose them both very wisely!
SMILE!
This is important!
Look at your track record & realize that you’ve always gotten through these crazy times before & you will again. Find something to laugh about.
I always envision what I must look like to others at certain times! That makes me laugh! Everyone must think I am crazy as I am rounding up my horses throughout the neighborhood in my slippers, or as I have dropped my kids off at school in my PJ’s, or as I am chasing the darn chickens through the yard…
We are all human & if we can just take some time to laugh at ourselves….it makes everything better!
These fast & easy techniques ALWAYS help to calm my mind & ease that tension that so quickly creeps in! The great things about these exercises can be done at anytime time & anywhere. Make sure to try them the next time that you are feeling overwhelmed or tense & let me know how they work for you!
As always I so appreciate you all & can’t wait to hear from you!
Thanks so stopping by! Much love to you all!
You got this!
XOXO,
Kristi