Stress. A quick Google search tells us stress is "a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances." I don't know about you, but May can bring with its flowers a multitude of demanding circumstances. It's a month of must-do's, especially if you have school-aged children. 'Tis the season for the 'final final' of every club, activity, sport, and academic arena that your child has ever participated in, and though they are all wonderful things, just looking at your calendar for the month ahead can cause a state of mental strain! And this comes after long, demanding days at the office. It's enough to wear even the strongest down.
If you were to self-assess in this very moment how stressed you are, how would you rate?
If you'd like a little help in determining your stress levels, consider taking this short quiz from Psych Central (psychcentral.com):
Emotional and mental tension from life's demands can take its toll on our mental and physical health and contribute to many health issues. An article from the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987) cites these negative symptoms of stress:
On your body:
- Headache
- Muscle tension or pain
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Change in sex drive
- Stomach upset
- Sleep problems
On your mood:
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Lack of motivation or focus
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Irritability or anger
- Sadness or depression
Many of us have fond memories of summer break. No school, sleeping in, running barefoot, catching lightning bugs, throwing water balloons, sipping lemonade, swimming, picnicking, camping -- all wonderful earmarks of the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. It was a time of refreshing between the demands of the school semesters. When we were kids, my brothers and I would play hide-and-go-seek until it was too dark to see where we were running. I remember the exhilarating feeling of sprinting back to the old ash tree just steps ahead of my chasing brothers, tangled hair flying as my swift, grass-stained feet carried me to the safety of base. Even if your summers were spent indoors, or taking a summer class, or working at your first job, the season still usually signifies a refreshing break in the routine, a change of pace. But how often do we get that time of refreshing in our adult lives? Seasons come and go and we plod on, day in and day out, consistently meeting demands and solving problems with no respite, leaving us exhausted.
Changing up your schedule to spend time to do things you enjoy is a valuable way to combat stress. The obvious thing to do is to take some time off work and go on vacation. But many can't afford to take the time off, or have the funds to do so. Yet they need a break as much as the next person! Look how Maya Angelou celebrated author, poet, and historian so succinctly states it:
"Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us."
Here, here! We all probably agree, but how do withdraw if time and funds are a constraint? It's really quite simple. For the moment, put aside your visions of lavishly escaping to a tropical island in the South Pacific, and just daydream for a moment about things do you like to do when you have some free time. Maybe it's just taking a walk at lunch. Or riding your bike. Maybe you like to fish. Maybe it's listening to your favorite tunes, or shooting basketball, reading a book, or going on a jog. Maybe your thing is to meet a dear friend for coffee. Or visit a museum, or browse your favorite clothing store. You may be one who likes to hike, or binge-watch your favorite show or ... take a nap!
I have found that I have to escape city life from time to time to find my place of refreshment. I keep my tent and camping gear tucked neatly away in the trunk of my car, so that at a moment's notice (i.e., 5:01 pm on a Friday afternoon), I can hop in my car and take a short drive out of town to find a scenic spot to set up camp. For me, something about physically removing myself from the city and escaping to the mountains instantly renews my sense of excitement and wonder. Add to that breathing in the crisp, clean mountain air, feasting my eyes on greens and blues (green trees, green grass, blue skies, blue waters), and turning off my cell phone! gives my soul the peace it longs for.
Whatever it is that suits your fancy, make sure it's something that you truly enjoy and has nothing to do with your day to day routine that leaves you drained. But you'll find that the most difficult part of refreshing is not determining what to do, but when. It's easy to decide that activities that serve no purpose other than fun aren't as important as our day-to-day work demands that shout so loudly, and just push the fun stuff aside. You're going to have to make a commitment to fun. Maybe you can carve out a new morning routine before the commute. Maybe you can find some time at lunch to have some down time. Maybe one evening a week you can leave the office right at 5 pm and go play. Or take a half day on the weekend and commit to spending that time doing something you love. Though fun may not seem as vital as work, truth is, we need both.
"There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither." -- Alan Cohen
When is the last time you did something just because it was fun? And if it's been way too long, how are your stress levels? Our souls need refreshing and it's important we figure out how to provide this form of self-care for ourselves. As summer approaches, try to carve out some time for fun. Your body and soul will thank you for it!
"A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men." -- Roald Dahl
No comments:
Post a Comment