… go by in a flash.
Life has been a little quite a LOT crazy lately. Not just mine, of course – more than a few of my friends have suffered under various sources of stress lately. Whether it is job-related, a personal issue, or just the time of year, sometimes that stress and any related worries try to rise up and suck you under. Here’s a list of things that I try to remember when the avalanche threatens to fall:
- Stop and breathe. If you’re stressing about something, chances are your heart rate is elevated and you aren’t getting enough oxygen calmly through your system. Inhale. Exhale. Slowly.
- Say a prayer. Remember that song “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”? There’s all sorts of solace to be found if you just take it to the Lord in prayer. This really should be number one on the list, but sometimes it’s hard to remember unless you breathe a little first.
- Go for a walk. Exercise is one of those ‘de-stressers’ the medical community loves to preach about. Turns out, they are right. You don’t have to ramp up to running miles; you don’t have to bench-press a cow. Just take a walk to clear your head, get your heart rate pumping a little bit, and relieve some of the tension you are under.
This is by no means a comprehensive list – these are just the first three things I try to remind myself to do when I feel battered by the rough waves of the ocean of life. For all of those who have felt this way lately, know that I am praying for you, too!
