The fall season is officially upon us....and before October was over, stores had already put up their Christmas decorations and started advertising their Black Friday specials. If you are a parent, then your kids are racing from one event/sport/class to the next and of course they have to "keep up" with so-and-so. And even without kids, this season is one of stress and chaos from all directions if you let it become that. Winterizing your house, your car...buying gifts for Christmas...keeping track of holiday parties to attend and planning out what you are going to bring...all of these things, in addition to everyday life tasks ~ can really burn someone out. And it's easy to turn to food for comfort when the going gets tough. I've put together some of my favorite ways to keep my spirits lifted and my soul charged up that DON'T involve food:
Aromatherapy:
Here are a few of my favorites that I rotate through depending on the mood I'm in. Christmas Wreath is actually my #1 favorite; it smells like Christmas when I was a very young girl and I had no worries or stresses at all. The power of spruce fragrance whenever I'm stressed is amazing! Grapefruit is just a clean, pure scent that is refreshing at any time. And Harvest Spice is very comforting; a few drops of this oil in my diffuser and a blanket on the sofa works every time.
Audio:
Almost everyone has a smart phone or some sort of mp3 player, and audio books or podcasts are a great way to reprogram your brain whenever you are overwhelmed. If you have a stressful drive home from work, or are waiting in a long grocery line...even a few minutes of a positive message can work wonders. Besides the ones I've pictured above, I also listen to Chalene Johnson's "Build Your Tribe" and Lewis Howe's "The School of Greatness". Make note of your favorites, those episodes which really speak to you and move you into a mindset of greater energy and empowerment. These are usually free, and can be accessed whenever you need them if you download them ahead of time.
Tea:
I know, I know....TEA?!?! But in all seriousness, a cup of really good tea can take make just about anything better. Unlike alcohol, tea won't give you a hangover and has many more health benefits :D And there's something healing about the ritual of brewing a pot of tea that brings comfort to a troubled soul. I even have a special tea cup I use to to add a bit of ceremony to the whole process, which elevates a plain cup of tea to an elegant, refreshing elixir that gives me energy.
Animals:
I absolutely love my pets. There's nothing better than coming home from a long work day and finding furry faces waiting for me in the windows. They are happy to see me, love me unconditionally, and don't talk back (much) when I feel the need to vent.
Coloring:
Yes, I color. I'm not afraid to admit it. Even if it is for just 5 minutes, the simple act of sharpening a colored pencil and using it to bring life to a flower or a leaf on a white page ~ liberating. It doesn't take tons of brain power, in fact ~ if you turn your brain OFF, the results tend to be better. The market is flooded with coloring books to purchase lately, and there are also many websites offering free pages to print and color.
Reading:
These are some of my "never fail" books I keep close by. The black book on the left is "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill (not just about become financially "rich", btw). I say "never fail" because there has not been a single time that any of these books has failed to inspire me. If I take the time to pick one up, crack the cover, and read even one paragraph ~ I find things are suddenly a little bit easier, a little bit more manageable.
Music:
Music is a powerful motivator for me. If I need to clean the house but think I don't have the energy to do it ~ I will boot up my computer and load up my Windows Music Player with a playlist specifically created to get myself moving. My taste in music is pretty diverse! Old school rap, some Michael Jackson, some hits from the 70's and 80's...even Michael Buble can help me get through a sink full of dirty dishes.
Exercise:
Of course, how could this list be complete without mentioning EXERCISE?!?! It doesn't have to be a long, sweaty session to be effective. You can even reframe your mind to think of it as "energy work"; restorative yoga or qi gong are some good examples of "energy work" that serve to replenish your energy stores, not deplete them as an intense aerobic session might.
Do you have any other techniques to work through a stressful time and get back to a happy, shiny outlook? Share them below, and be sure to subscribe to email updates by clicking on the link below! You can also follow me on Facebook at TRW Health and Wellness :D
