STRESS LESS

Although it’s only been in our lives for a short period at this point, COVID-19 has introduced a whole new era in American history – and a whole new level of stress.

In our last blog, we chatted about ways to stay motivated while you’re cleaning house – even if you’re not feeling so great. In this post, we wanted to share some stress-reduction techniques that we find helpful in our everyday lives. We hope you’ll find these tips helpful as you continue to navigate working from home, schooling your kids or dealing with the added stress of disinfecting, washing and drying groceries (really, did grocery shopping need extra steps added?!).

In this post, we’re sharing our top tips for developing a habit of mindfulness this year. Don’t try to start doing all six all at once. Instead, pick one or two that you really think will benefit you and give them a try.

No guilt. No shame. Only gains.

1. PHYSICAL: Practice good breathing. We’re big fans of “belly breathing.” This is a basic exercise in concentrating your breathing to help you relax. First, make sure you’re sitting or lying down comfortably. Then put one hand on your belly, just below your ribs, and the other hand on your chest. Take a deep breath in through your nose, then breathe out through pursed lips. Use the hand on your belly to help push all the air out. Repeat 10 times, slowly and gently. Do this exercise any time you start to feel stressed or anxious.
2. MENTAL: Take a sanity break. There’s nothing wrong with shutting down the computer and turning off your cell phone for an hour or even a whole day. Just because you can be available for someone or something 24/7 doesn’t mean you should be. Sanity breaks can be as simple as going for a tech-free walk, watching an episode of your favorite sitcom, or working on those breathing exercises we talked about earlier.
3. SPIRITUAL: Meditate or pray each day. Whatever your religion, taking a few moments each day to commune with God or with yourself can help boost your outlook on life and remind you to live more in the moment and worry less.
4. MENTAL: Practice gratitude. Giving thanks isn’t just an exercise for November. Give thanks every day for the people, animals, and things that make your life better – and then start finding small ways to show your appreciation to your loved ones.
5. HOUSEHOLD: Start small. Instead of deciding to clean and organize your entire kitchen in one day, declutter the pantry. Or the drawers on the left side of the room. Or the cabinet above the microwave. Once you conquer one small task, move on to the next one.
6. WORK LIFE: Set boundaries. These days, we’re all working from home. Keep your sanity by setting clear boundaries between work hours and non-work hours so you don’t end up working sixty hours a week or more. Establish a work space or a home office for yourself so that you keep your working separate from your relaxing.

If you’ve got other tips to help reduce stress in these trying times, let us know! We’d love to hear and share on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds. Good luck, stay home & stay well!