What Do I Do When I am Stressed?
i am so stressed i want to cry.
When we clean up the environment we are in, declutter, straighten a space it will naturally help our minds settle to a more relaxed state.
Yet, when we see all the dishes in the sink, the crumbs on the floor under the highchair, the dirty laundry, or the mountain of clean unfolded laundry so tall it’s falling on the dirty floor… our mind sees ALL the tasks…that we NEED to do and haven’t done…we get easily overwhelmed.
I have found that, if I have one space in my house that I have set apart to go when I reach the point of “I am so stressed I want to cry.” I can take a minute or more to sit and take a breath. It is so calming to me when I know that one space I won’t have to pick up a dirty sock or clean up a mess. I can just sit and be still.
If you don’t have a whole room that you can keep neat and decluttered, then you can create a space within a room. Make it your goal to always have that space neat and clean.
Think: a small place near a window, a table in the kitchen you alway keep clean and wiped off, your favorite reading spot, your office, a corner in your room with comfy pillows. When you walk into this room or sit in this space—you will automatically take a deep breath in and relax just stepping into the space.
How to relieve stress quickly
Breathe.
Take a minute to notice your breathing. It is quite possible that you have been holding your breath. You may have been breathing from your chest. Try breathing as if you are blowing up a balloon in your belly.
******Breath through your NOSE******
Breathe in 3 count
Hold 4 count
Breath out 7 count
Try this no more than 3x
so stressed out i can’t handle it
Paul writes in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” There is a plethora of scientific studies of how thanksgiving or gratefulness changes the way our brain is wired. And that ultimately changes our attitude and lowers our stress. There are always, always, always, things to be thankful for. Check out Switch on your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf for further study.
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he reminds them (and us) not to worry about anything. In everything—the hard and the good—we can pray and be thankful for the blessings we do have, and we can talk with God about all that is going on and tell him our requests. He cares so much about you, he created you to need him and in us responding to stress by going to him…He will give us peace that surpasses our own understanding and will guard our hearts and our minds. (Phil 4:7).
If you don’t know God personally or on the level of being about to go to him in prayer, here is a great resource.
what do i do when you feel stressed and overwhelmed?
Remember to breath, pray and choose thankfulness instead of complaining (even if you just stop and think of 3 things your thankful for), scan the horizon or your surroundings—it reminds your body and brain you are safe.
Also, drink some cold water. If you need extra reasons to drink water this is the blog post for you. You also could pick up a great book, reading is incredibly grounding and it will destress your body. Here is a post of wrote on reading for your health. Or you could go take a walk.
I pray this is an encouragement and a reminder that even in the days you are so stressed you want to cry, there is always hope,
Chels
