Csy-Lux

Anxiety. I think that’s something we all deal with at some point in life. Personally, becoming a mom and always being so busy, I never realized how it impacted my everyday life. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I started my health journey, and I started to really care for my body that I realized I often have anxiety. What I used to think was just me being annoyed or irritated at times was really me being worried, overwhelmed, and burnt out from whatever million things I had on my mind that day. Being the oldest of all my siblings has given me a natural motherly instinct to always want to help others, always want to be involved in anything that requires help of any sort, and always making myself available for everyone at any time. I love the adrenaline of always being a busy mom, always having something scheduled, and always being on the go, but it’s not always good for me. Anxiety to me is feeling like you can’t breathe because you need a minute to not worry about a million things that you really have no control over. Over the past months, I have come to the realization that I put a lot of time into taking care of my body and my health, but my mental well-being is just as equally important. I want to share some things that I have noticed manage my stress and anxiety and maybe could help other moms and anyone really if you deal with anxiety.  

Eating Well

My eating habits have become so important in how my brain and body manage stress in my sometimes overwhelming schedule.  I notice that when I eat whole foods, fruits, and vegetables, and stay away from fast food , I feel my best. Feeling my best prepares me for being able to handle anything that comes my way. Prepping my lunches and bringing them to work is a must for me. I thrive on a routine, and this applies to my eating habits.

Sleeping Well

Sleep makes a BIG difference in how my day goes, and I have learned to love my sleep.  I have been prioritizing not using my phone an hour before bedtime, which is something I am back to working on. When I sleep well, I wake up energized and ready to take on my day. I don’t feel like I am dragging and counting down the hours for day’s end like my worries are bigger than me.

Working out

I have to move my body every day. No exceptions. It is a must, and my brain knows when I don’t. When I don’t move, I definitely feel it in more than one way. There is nothing that a good run, a good walk, or even a good stretch can’t make better. Days that I am feeling that I have a lot on my head, I make time to move my body, and everything just seems to fall back in place for me. Don’t underestimate the power of physical movement and all the good it does for you.

Cutting back on caffeine

I am usually just a two cup of coffee a morning person. One at home and one at in the office, but when I am feeling anxious, caffeine makes it worse. On days that I feel I have a lot going on, I choose to replace my second cup of coffee with tea. I have also added tea to my afternoons to end the day.

Journaling

I took up journaling in the beginning of this year as a way to just write down my thoughts and some bible verses to guide me and encourage me to be my best. I find that it is a really cool way to express my feelings and just look back on other days and re read my thoughts. Life has good days in store for us as well as bad days, but it is how we choose to look at life that count. I have diaries from when I was in elementary school and middle school still and it makes me smile to look back on them and read through them.

Decluttering

Having an organized and uncluttered space is GOOD for feeling in control of my life. If I can recommend one thing, it is to organize, organize, and organize! Just as we take time to organize our thoughts, doing it with our surroundings is just as good to us. Clean out your workspace, clean out your car, your home, and your closets. Keep only what you need and use. Get rid of the distractions. It is good for your mental health. It helps you be calmer and happier and in charge of your day.  

Slowing Down

I am learning that it is OK to slow down. I can take a step back when I am overwhelmed, and I can designate tasks to others. I love to be able to do it all and always be on the go, but it’s ok to breathe when I need to. I am not winning any awards for being the most stressed out or wanting to take over everything. My to-do lists are great, but if I am not completing it all, I have a whole new day to get it done.

Hopefully, if you are someone who can be somewhat of a control freak like me and an overthinker and then get anxious because of it,  you can benefit from some of my tips above. This year, I am working on slowly down, and I am loving the process.

Life isn’t always meant to be perfect and fast and easy. Life is meant to be intentional, slow living, and filled with purpose because when it comes down to it, time is promised to no one.