Our family has been busier than usual as of late. Between end-of-summer activities, guests in and out of our home, back-to-school preparations, and the endless laundry, it’s been hard to find a few hours to rub together in silence. With summer coming to a close, school getting ready to start back up, and trying to keep the kids in shoes that fit, I’m finding myself a bit on the tired side. Add to that, extended family dysfunction and kid behavioral problems, and it’s nearly enough to drive a sane person to crazy town.
(Or is that just me?)
Tip: Sometimes the cause of our stress is that aren’t pursuing goals that matter to us. Grab my FREE 5-Day Goals Course to get you on track in this busy season and beyond! Find it HERE.
How to Deal with “One of Those Days”…
In the middle of a busy time period, with no rest in sight, I find that I get frustrated easily, react poorly, and am often more aware of all of the little things that have gone wrong. When that happens, it’s easy to spew everything that’s happening in my life to a friend or family member, only to finish with, “That’s the kind of day I’m having, how about you?”…
…to which they typically offer some sort of sympathy.
Each and every time I have that kind of attitude, though, I know it’s time for something to give. If possible, I plan for a “Just Say No” day or weekend, but when that’s not feasible, I’ve come up with what I believe to be a valuable list of options to break the pattern of negative thinking and find refreshment amidst the chaos.
Choose Thankfulness
Choosing to be thankful is a great way to change any attitude from bad to good. In fact, it’s so hard to be down about a person or situation when you are actively looking for something to be thankful for. I like to choose thankfulness in one of two ways, however, there are endless options for making this work for you.
Share With Others
Sharing the things you are thankful for with those around you is most often reserved for the time between the prayer and eating turkey dinner over the Thanksgiving holiday, and yet, it’s not something that has to stay tied to that day alone.
Not only can it be helpful in changing your own perspective, but it’s often contagious. Our family likes to do this around the dinner table, with each family member sharing two or three things they are thankful for about the day, a situation, or a person. Not only do we focus on togetherness, which often can be neglected in times of chaos, but in doing so, we find ourselves smiling more, with the discussion moving away from the stressors of life to more fun and exciting possibilities.
Write it Down
An alternative, or addition, to sharing your thankfulness with others is writing those things down. It’s something that can be done in the heat of a stressful moment, by taking a break from the situation and quickly adding ten things you are thankful for to a sticky note. It’s also something that can be done on a more regular basis, using a notebook and keeping a thankfulness journal.
What are you thankful for today?
Take A Break – Even a Mini One Will Do
Maybe you don’t have time for a “Just Say No” day or weekend, but you might be able to have your spouse watch the kids for an hour while you take a bath, read your Bible, or spend some much-needed therapy time in the garden. If that’s not an option, wait until the kids are in bed, leave the dishes for the morning, and take a few minutes to do something that relaxes you.
Trust me, it helps.
Talk to Someone
Find someone to talk to, preferably someone who isn’t also causing you stress. Depending on the situation, this might be a friend, family member, coworker, or even a therapist. Use that person to bounce ideas off of and, hopefully, they will be willing to give you a little dose of reality if you need it.
Breathe
I worked in a coffee shop for quite a while in my early twenties and quickly realized that I hold my breath when I’m focused on something stressful. Trying to serve up custom-made coffee beverages, along with any pastry or sandwich ordered, wasn’t outside my wheelhouse, but was something that required my concentration.
So, in the midst of the chaos, I would hold my breath unknowingly, until the stress stopped, and then I would let it out with a woosh. It turns out that people get worried when someone starts taking deep breaths in and out, though, so I tried to be attentive to that fact.
While breathing deeply (and loudly) in public doesn’t come recommended, I do recommend taking some time to breathe deeply. It works to alleviate the stress and bring you back to a calm place, if only for a moment.
Slow breath in.
Slow breath out.
Slow breath in.
Slow breath out.
Did you do it with me? If so, I’m sure you are feeling more relaxed already. I know I am!
Exercise
I’ve found that exercise is one of the best ways for me to relieve stress. Depending on the weather, I choose to go on a walk (with my headphones in) or head off to the gym. Thirty minutes of brisk activity and I find myself feeling refreshed and ready to head back into life as I know it, stressful or not.
Of course, that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so you’ll have to decide whether that only aggravates the issue!
Hang in there
If life is feeling overwhelming at the moment, or perhaps you are stuck in a rut with no idea how to get out, take a few minutes to pause and follow the process above. It doesn’t have to be one of those days…or weeks…or months any longer.
Tip: Sometimes the cause of our stress is that aren’t pursuing goals that matter to us. Grab my FREE 5-Day Goals Course to get you on track in this busy season and beyond! Find it HERE.
