How do you get yourself OUT of being stressed out? I've never had

[MJN]

so much stress at one time. I don't even know where to start, but I know I have to get out of this mode. So, what do I do?

Thanks,

Molly

[Liz CA]

so much stress at one time. I don't even know where to start, but I know I have to get out of this mode. So, what do I do?

Thanks,

Molly

to control the circumstances or have to wait on something that is causing me stress, I try to exercise regularly, sleep longer and eat better and pray a lot or even cry a lot. A talk with a good friend sometimes helps too. If your stress is mainly caused by every day living - not by specific incidents - it would probably also help to get on some kind of routine. It helps me anyway and relieves stress to some degree.

[8FillTheHeart]

Hi Molly,

My recommendation is to alleviate what stresses that you have control over. For example, our life became a total whirlwind b/c my dh accepted a new job, listing our house, selling it in a week, having only 18 days for closing, and having no place to move, househunting, moving, and unpacking. All of those things were things I had absolutely no control over.

We did do any school while in the midst of all of that. As matter of fact, today was our first day back. I stopped all the major baking and made life simpler.....bagels and english muffins for breakfast, simple sandwiches of lunch, and highly pre-prepared meals (like frozen lasagna) which we normally never eat. We used tons of disposables. I also drank a glass of wine (or 2) every night!! ;)

I hope things calm down in your life soon.

[Beth in Central TX]

I second the exercise suggestion. For me, exercise has made a huge difference in reducing my stress level. I walk at least 4 days during the week and one day on the weekend.

[one l michele]

Chocolate :) Learn to say no, prioritize, take 5 minutes for yourself (even if it means hiding in the bathroom), and realize while you can't always control the situation, you can control how you react to it.

[Tap, tap, tap]

I have to write out my schedule so I can see where I can cut back and what to prioritize.


I will list my day in an appointment book but make each row (that usually intended for different days of the week) for one family member. I list all appointments, sports, and activities in the person's column, and then I transfer my part of that activity to my column, including time to dress baby and drive.

I can then better prioritize what has to get done, and see where I can overlap obligations to save me time later. For example Today is fairly simple but somedays my schedule is broken into 15minute segments and is full from top to bottom. I like to add in dinner prep usually too so I can make sure I am not over-scheduled to feed the kids.

DS13 takes 2 classes on Wednesday so those are listed in his column.
DD9 had to go to the doctor to get a strep test
DD15mths had to go to the doctor too.

DD9 and DS13 have Piano at 5pm
DD9 and DS 13 have Awanas and youth group from 6-8:30

All of these activities are listed on thier schedules.

Then I transfer it all to my schedule and add in drive time so my schedule looks like this


8:00-Drive DS to school
8:30 call doctor
9:00 drive dd9 and dd15mth to doctor-grocery shop after appointment

10:00

11:00
11:30 drive to pu ds from school
12:00 Lunch-baby nap! time
12:30 baby nap! art project
1:00 baby nap! Call Lawyer

2:00 BREAK TIME FOR MOMMY!

3:00 baby wakes up.

4:00 Eat early dinner for church
4:30 drive to church !!Remember PIANO books!! Hubby and I to dinner.
5:00

6:00

7:00

8:00 Drive to pu kids

9:00


This helps me tremedously because I can see at a glance what my day will look like. I can add notes like "return library books" or "call....". Then I don't have to try to remember during the day to do these chores I just go down my list and I know they are taken care of. No more forgetting! I can also see my hectic times and then I know if I get an unexpected phone call; or the kids ask to start a project, right before my time is over-scheduled, that I either don't take the call or I don't waste time on activities that will cause a time crunch. It makes me really look at my driving time so I can combine trips like adding the grocery trip into the doctors visit time frame. Then I know that I have to decided on dinner before I leave the house. This make dinner hour much nicer! Lunch is smoother because I now know if it is going to be on the run an in the car or if we have time for homemade pizza.

I also schedule in times for baby's nap and my own down time. This makes sure that those are a priority also.


By seeing my day at a glance I can also make sure I hit the ground running on crazy days, and that I can enjoy stolen quiet moments when I can.

[Maria from IN]

I "third" the exercise--it helps me a lot when I'm stressed out. When things get absolutely unbearable I start journaling again. Just writing down how stressed out I am or what's bothering me for a few minutes before bed gives me someone to tell my troubles to. The journal is not judgemental and does not try to dismiss my troubles by solving them with a few little words. I can fall asleep more easily because it's off my mind for the time being. Sometimes just verbalizing our stress, even if it's in a journal, is a relief.

[HiddenJewel]

Journaling puts the stresses into perspective for me. If I can provide solutions for some of them, I do. If not, it is easier to deal with if I don't keep it all inside.

[Elaine]

((Molly))

Is it possible for you to identify the largest area of stress and begin from there?

I know for me, when I have taken on way too many committments, that the seemingly smallest tasks can suddenly become monumental. You know, like getting out of bed in the morning.;)

[Kari C in SC]

Another vote for exercise. Last year was VERY stressful for me. Most of the stress was from things I had absolutely no control over. I was talking to a very good friend, actually, I think I was crying. She told me to "get out of my head". Sounds silly, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. I was just sitting and thinking about things I could do nothing about. I had to let it go. I found that walking was a great way to let it go. I would just go out and breathe in the air. We have recently moved and one day I spent some time just walking. When things start just swirling around me, this helps the most. I also find blogging to be an outlet. And of course, there is always chocolate. Good luck! I hope your load lightens soon.

[Friederike in Persia]

I don't know about long term, but for the last few days (weeks) it's worked for me to cut down with the hs. To stop totally would stress me more, but to do stuff the dc like and take down my usual level of intensity has made our days lighter. It's also helped with me snapping at them, what I'm prone to do when I'm stressed.:o

[DIY-DY]

so much stress at one time. I don't even know where to start, but I know I have to get out of this mode. So, what do I do?

Thanks,

Molly

I've noticed that when things get stressful, I tend to cope okay for a while, but then I let my own health slide. When I get that back on track, it's usually enough to help me pull myself up by my bootstraps again.

Some things I tend to neglect:
* Sleep - for me, regularity seems to be more important than quantity
* Water intake - yup, water intake.
* Vitamins - I take a good multi-vit and a sublingual B complex, and when I remember to do it, I do feel more capable of coping with ALL THIS STUFF!
* Getting up and moving around - both vigorously, and just to mosey. Five minutes around the back yard, focusing on the plants, looking for critters, digging in the dirt for bugs w/ the kids... these things, when neglected, seem to be missed by my inner Balance Guru. :)

Once I've looked at these things, and tended to them, then I can usually step back, prioritize, and get a grip on what I can tackle and what I'll have to just ride out. But I'm better equipped to hang on and ride out the tough stuff when I've done the first two steps first (personal care, and prioritization). It feeds my inner control freak quite nicely without making everyone around me nuts.

HTH, and {{{hugs}}}
Dy

[Laura Corin]

Laura