Stress Sneaking Up on You?

Hey friends!

I was sitting at home this evening, enjoying family dinner (Spicy Cajun Chicken Pasta!), surfing the interweb as the hubster helped with dishes, and got to thinking about my "whole life."

I have come a fair distance since rethinking some basic choices in life.  While I've made huge strides in my nutrition, strength training, and cardio vascular training, and have recently added regular maintenance (chiropractic care) to my basic medical needs, there is one pillar of my "whole life" that I'm not nailing down.

REST and RELAXATION

Part of me wants to be a morning person. I enjoy the 5am workouts - enough that I set my alarm for 4:20am so I can get up, drink my morning shake and get across town in time. But I still can't seem to get to bed before 11:45pm on those nights. There is always one more story to read, blog research, or hell, even one more episode of friends or the results on some DIY Network show. But then I need a nap halfway through the day. Why can't I shut down?

Tonight, as I sit here at the table, I thought - "Geez, I should get over to the gym and jump on the elliptical machine or the step mill or something. I shouldn't just be SITTING here." (Even though I typically work out 6 days a week and had a tough TRX workout with Ben and Bella this morning, and I'm feeling the suitcase dead lifts from last night's circuits!) My body needs to rest and rebuild. We get stronger when we rest. But I started to feel a little stress creeping up on me - "Why ARE you just sitting around?"

There are projects that I need to be working on at home if we ever hope to get this place on the market. I start a new job in less than 2 weeks. Summer will be here before you know it. Taxes aren't done yet. The days fly by and before you know it, I've lost a whole month. The Daylight Saving switch has me all messed up. I'm still feeling STRESS.

So, it's time to refocus on that fifth pillar - Rest & Relaxation.

I really like this graphic - it shows many different ways that people can manage stress:

There are so many things that we can focus on to help lower stress levels. Did you know that playing with your pets isn't just good for them, but good for YOU?  Riley and Riggs will be excited to help me find my happy place!

As I was perusing stories about managing stress, I found this one with some easy ways for us all to bring ourselves back to base. (Click on it and check it out. Really. Go.)

I totally get that my laundry room isn't going to clean itself, and the projects won't get done without some planning and time commitment. But the important thing to remember is that I can do it in manageable chunks. There are people in my life I can lean on. I don't have to be Super Woman, I just have to be the best version of me that I can manage. (Repeat this over and over and over and over again. It's true. It really is.)

I think I'd like to work in some Yoga into my fitness routine, as well. Not only can it be a focused, slow and deliberate series of movements that will help to quite your mind, it's also a body shaping and toning workout. Do any of you regularly do yoga? What do you love about it?

So, my commitment for next week is:

• GO TO BED. Even if I sit and read, sip on water and just relax, getting my body into the routine of going to bed by 10pm the nights before my early workouts will be a vast improvement.
• TAKE SMALL CHUNKS. Divide my tasks into smaller, manageable bite size projects. Decluttering is first on my list. Painting the recently patched drywall is next. Then the cans to the recycler. But not all at once or all on the same day. 
• ASK FOR HELP. If I don't have time for all the things on my list - I need to delegate. That's a tough one for me. But when it comes to things like dishes, laundry, and home chores, I'm going to turn over a new leaf! But taking some of those chores off my list, I should have more time to get things on my to-do list done.
• SAY NO. The answer doesn't always have to be yes. I can say, "I'm sorry. I just don't have the time to help with that right now." and not feel guilty. We'll see if this one sticks. It's even tougher than delegating for me.
• LAUGH. This is one that I think will come easily. I'm looking forward to 3 "trips" - one this weekend with the hubster to mix business with pleasure and see old friends, a trip to the zoo with my son, and a day trip to Chicago with my oldest loin fruit. Time with them is more important than any old to-do list. Remember that when I start to feel the stress creeping up on me should help.

So, if you see me, frazzled and stressed - remind me to chew gum, pet my dogs, and go to bed. Tell me to say no and to LAUGH. I need all of you to keep me in check.

Until next time,

<3 Jen