You know how you have those weeks (or maybe months or years) that just
seem to be loaded with stress? I know it's all relative -- one person's
stress is another's holiday. People with two children think having just
one child is a piece of cake, and so on. I've had one of those weeks --
I've been on the road a lot and dealing with an injury, work hasn't been
going my way, and my three-year-old has been possessed by an alien. And
I'm not talking about a friendly alien that wants to know what this
planet is all about -- no, I am talking about someone who wants to
launch a full-scale assault, but only in public places. To be honest,
this stress has even made it more challenging to relate to my husband in
a free-and-easy "girlie" way. I've had more tones of "wife" in my voice
during this past week than I've had in my entire 11-year relationship.

It takes a million years for one gene to change in our bodies. One
million years! I'm bringing this up because, physiologically, we're the
same humans we were 300 years ago. But look at how things have changed
in that short time. Some things make life easier now: washers and
dryers, transportation, abundance of food, electricity, etc. But some
things make life today more insane: cell phones, traffic, increased
population, fake food, TV, busy schedules. I heard a statistic from a
doctor-friend that we make more decisions in one day than people used to
make in a year. No wonder we're stressed out and reaching for doughnuts
or alcohol to cope.

All this craziness and high-speed living isn't going away. Since we
can't change our genes, we have to create a map to navigate this crazy
life. What can you do to try and stay on top of the stress so it doesn't
affect your health, happiness, or waistline?

Exercise. Amen for endorphins. Believe me, they've helped me many days
with my perspective. If you have to work out, then go take a brisk walk
and get that blood flowing. It isn't about working out to lose weight --
it's about being healthy and staying sane.


Eat the real stuff. Crappy food (fast, processed, and loaded with sugar)
doesn't help your chemical brain and body handle stress. Living food,
real food, helps support your mind and body while it's trying to deal
with the million things coming its way. Every time I reach for the
chocolate, I'm looking to feel something from it. Don't get me wrong --
if it's just a little here and there because I enjoy the taste of it,
great. But if I'm using it the minute I feel overwhelmed, then that's
when that food is no longer OK to eat. It doesn't make the problem go
away, and then I just feel bad about eating the food to pacify myself.
Grab green food instead. Put things in your mouth that are going to
support your immune function and keep you levelheaded.


Notice. Try not to let the stress overtake you. Recognize the situations
that cause the stress and notice them coming your way. You have a better
shot at fending off the full effects of the stress when you can
anticipate it.


Get it off your chest. Talk to a friend or partner about the stress.
Sometimes just getting it off your chest can help unload some of the
burden.

Keep your sense of humor. If you do have the chance to talk about it,
try to see the irony and humor in the wacky bits. I think someone is
dead in the water once they lose their sense of humor.


Stay grateful. My daughter has large lungs and verbal skills she likes
to display. Just when I start to wishfully think about her being quiet,
I remind myself to be grateful that she can talk to me at all. In almost
all of our problems are boatloads of blessings. "Oh, I don't feel like
going to the gym." Well, Amen that you have the means and the health to
even be able to wrestle with the idea of going to work out. Make a habit
of saying thank you. You will notice the sunny spots a lot more often,
and not just the gray skies and storms.


Ask, "What's the hurry?" Have some fun. We're always so busy going
somewhere, we miss just enjoying the moment. If an opportunity comes
your way to do something fun, take it.


Take a deep breath. When you feel the stress getting to you, take a
moment. Get away, even if it's just for an hour, to be with yourself and
your thoughts. Some people like to take a walk, meditate, lock
themselves away in a beautiful bath, or go to church. Find the peace and
the silence.


Keep it simple. Simplify where you can. Does Junior really need to be in
78 activities at the age of 5? Do you have to go to every little party
or gathering you're invited to?


Turn of the TV. A lot of it is bad news anyway, and it robs us of hours
that we could use to be getting other things done. Since everyone
complains that they have no time, get some by unplugging from the tube.


Sleep. If you're rested, you have a better shot at handling things. Not
to mention, you may not stress out as easily if you have a chance to
recover at night.


Drink water. I have said it before: Americans consume 21 percent of
their calories through liquid consumption. Hydrate with water. Help you
entire system function better just by drinking enough water. Oh, and by
the way, if you don't think that weight loss and proper hydration have a
relationship, think again. Shift the paradigm on its side -- don't think
about exercise and nutritional eating just as something you have to
suffer through to get into those jeans. Instead, think of them as armor
that will protect you in this crazy world, with all of the bazillion
details you deal with every day.

thanks for the tips mill.. ALL of em

>>>dRINKING A ton OF WATER NOW

These are all good ideas
I usually beat the hell out of my drums for a half hour if I am stressed
Then I don't have the energy to be stressed

Having an early night.

Yup. I should do that.




NOT.