You’re stuck in traffic. The baby’s crying. And the office is calling. Life with baby is amazing. And amazingly stressful. Here are some of the ways I deal when I feel stretched too thin and ready to crack.
- Listen to classical music
Okay, it doesn't have to be classical if you really don't like it, but I have found that in some stressful situations (exams, work deadlines, etc.) putting some classical music in my iPod really helps me to cool down.
- Exercise more
Exercise is one of the best ways to de-stress your body and mind.
- Ditch the bad friends
There is a great Buddhist master called Shantideva who said, "Bad friends are like rotting fish and you are like a rose. Mix the rose with the fish and soon it will stink too!"
- Cut out fatty foods
Fatty foods often leave you feeling heavy and depressed. They slow down your digestive system and make everything inside you a little bit off. Like a good car, you want to feed yourself quality fuel. This keeps your body and your mind running well. Stick to natural foods like fruits and vegetables as much as you can. You will feel better for it.
- Stop putting it off
When I put things off I get stressed. Whether it is work, tasks, doctors visits or something else, it always seems bigger and scarier when I put it off. If we sort out our problems early we can often avoid the mental activities that go along with that event.
- Spa, stretch and massage often
Women often think of spas and massages as luxury treats but if you are a member of a gym you can get them pretty cheap. It is a great way to relax your mind and allow your body to have some much needed rest time. It can also aid in the healing of muscles and stressed joints. Likewise, stretching during the day can release tension in your muscles.
- Sleep better
Lack of sleep has got to be one of the number one reasons that people get stressed. Sleep is very important to humans. It is the time when the body and the mind process the events of the day and much healing takes place when you are deeply asleep. For this reason it is important to make sure your sleep is not only long enough but good enough.
There are a couple other ones I can think of but didn't add to my list because I have yet to try them out — they include "love" (ahem) and the ability to blow things off. My dominant, type A personality absolutely cannot do this, but it may work for you.