Emotional health is so important to general well-being. Whether stress is coming from my home, my physical health, my responsibilities, or my routine, if I feel anxious and stressed it is hard to live life to the fullest.
But as hard as it is to experience the stress, I know that I am not the only one who suffers from its affects. When I am not centred and in control of my emotions, those closest to me feel it as well. I am not as present or as patient as I want to be – and I begin to lack the enthusiasm for life that is so important to connecting with others and making the most of the relationships around me.
Keeping calm and collected under pressure is a topic I have pondered and read about many times. A week of congestion, a big (stinky) plumbing problem to deal with, and an upcoming event to plan may drive my stress levels through the roof whereas I know others are facing much more serious, even life threatening issues. Many people suffer incredible challenges in life but they are still kind, amazing individuals… you may never even know the dramas or tests going on behind closed doors.
So is there a trick to dealing with stress? Why do some people cave under pressure and others thrive despite it?
I definitely think that challenges help us grow as individuals, and reflecting on what we can learn from the situations in our lives can offer insight for longer term appreciation. But that still doesn’t mean it’s easy. No matter what specific circumstances I am facing – big or small – I have come to believe that it is the conscious effort I put into staying calm under pressure that allows me to work through my issues effectively and joyfully.
Basically it’s not the stress that’s the determining factor to my mood or well-being, but the way I deal with it.
I personally find that if I simply *think* about whatever I am anxious about, I tend to go in a spiral and never actually feel better. So whenever I become conscious of this pattern taking place, I try to get up and *do* something to help ease my stress levels – so I can start fresh and make an effort to change my mindset.
I decided to ask followers on my Facebook page what strategies they use to keep calm under stress, and here are some of their great ideas.
- Take deep breaths
- Sing a favourite song
- Have a short nap (even 10-15 minutes)
- Enjoy soothing aromas such as lavender
- Go on a nature walk
- Do some some exercise
- Have a hot shower
- Give someone a hug
- Look for an inspirational quote, prayer or meditation – you may enjoy this Pinterest board for parenting quotations linking to positive articles to read
Once snapped out of “stress mode,” it can be nice to try some more thought provoking techniques such as:
- Remind yourself that the situation is not an emergency (hopefully!), and that you will have time to address it
- Make time for introspection – find out what is really causing the upset (it may seem like a million things, but is there one major issue creating the bulk of the anxiety?)
- Do a brain dump – write everything out, so you can get everything out of your mind and eventually plan for change instead of simply feeling anxious about it all
- Take one step at a time – just work through the activities of the day (i.e. cooking, bed time) as single objectives until you feel more under control and actually have the time and space to work through the problems at hand
The subject of keeping calm under stress has been very important to me these past few months as I was facing some new territory with my pregnancy, traveling internationally, and addressing other everyday challenges. Replacing the negative thoughts with positive thoughts has been crucial for me during this period.
One resource that I am currently enjoying to help me maintain a positive perspective is the lovely Gratitude Journal – I am grateful for – Inspired gratitude journal
What strategies do you use to keep calm under stress? Do you find that getting control over your stress levels helps you deal with actual stress-trigers more effectively, too?
This post is part of the series Self-Care for Mothers in which I discuss caring for myself amidst the busy reality that is motherhood. I believe in order to “be our best” as parents we have to take care of ourselves as individuals. This series is dedicated to sharing insights that I am learning during my own journey and inviting readers to share their tips as well. Check out the rest of the series by clicking here.
Lovely post Chelsea. I’ve had a few moments this week with baby #3 and 2 big girls to look after. Those moments where suddenly everyone needs you or everyone is crying or big girls are fighting and I’m nursing etc etc!! But being calm and collected is key to all of our sanity! Thanks for the reminder and some good strategies too! 🙂 xx
Ahhh I can only imagine what it will be like with 3 😉 Thanks for reading xx
This was a great post, Chelsea. It’s funny how we almost feel guilty for taking any time for ourselves… so silly! I like the brain dump thing. Clear out the brain so anxiety doesn’t set in.
Thanks Rachel 🙂 Yes it’s such an oxymoron for moms to feel they have to be martyrs… how can we be good moms if we don’t care for ourselves?! Cars can’t run on empty, why should we have to.
I am a firm believer in moms taking time to invest in themselves. I currently have an ongoing series about moms on vacation to inspire and encourage moms to take time away. I want to normalize it and take the guilt out of it. It is so encouraging to see your self care for moms series. One of the biggest ways I cope with stress best is to talk to a girlfriend. I either make a phone call or invite a close friend over for coffee. Just chatting with a close friend about what I am going through helps immensely.
LOVE your aim to encourage moms to take vacations. I never considered going off by myself until I learned about blogging conferences… since then I have been on two and it’s been so therapeutic. When I come home, I’m much more present and relaxed after having a few days focused on nurturing my own interests.
So true about talking to friends. Makes a world of difference.
Great post Chelsea and some fabulous tactics for overcoming stress. I like to think I handle stress pretty well most of the time but even still, it sneaks up on me sometimes. I’ll wonder why I’m shouting at the kids or dog and it can be “Oh yeah, I’m really stressed because XXX – that’s not their fault!”
One strategy that works in some cases is to do the worst-case scenario test. What is the worst thing that could happen – what if I don’t get organised in time, what’s the worst thing that would happen? I’d miss my flight. Then what? I’d have to spend a fortune and I miss all my connections. Then what? I’d get there eventually… and so on. Sometimes this can diffuse the stress and make it a bit less overwhelming; it’s a bit like imagining the boggeyman in his undies!!
Love that Jo! My life coach introduced that technique to me when I was totally stressed out about trying for another baby, in fear of having another miscarriage. Imagining the “worst” that could possibly happen really helps you realise that you WILL get through it, no matter what does actually occur.