Happy Spring!
While I love the changing of the seasons, and I especially love spring, sometimes it brings more than just sunshine and flowers. It seems like this time of year brings a lot of opportunities to be stressed. When I was younger, I might have blamed that extra stress on having four kids suddenly in the house all day while school was out; but as I age, I think the truth is that spring challenges me (and not just my allergies). When I look around, I see new growth in every area. The trees are working hard to push out new leaves and there is an explosion of baby birds. New life is everywhere. Often in the spring, I find myself thinking about the future. What does this new season hold for me and my family? What new things are around the bend? I spend weekend afternoons daydreaming. Then wham! The stress creeps in. Maybe it is my perfectionist nature. Maybe it is that I tend to get easily overwhelmed sometimes. Either way, one thing I love about spring day-dreaming is that I get to find new ways to relax and enjoy the season I am in.
Recently, I had the pleasure of working on a project with a wonderful team member who really focuses on self-care. (Maybe one day I can interview her for a post on 360social.) The first time I sent her an email, I noticed that even in her signature line, she mentioned that she prioritized self-care. She wrote that if her email had reached me at a time where I was relaxing or being with family, then I should respond later. Wow! That is certainly unusual in today’s world. Her most recent email said that she was out of the office focusing on self-care. She was celebrating the joys of family and friends, having fun, and reading books. That email got me thinking: how do I prioritize self-care and stress relief?
This year, my daughter and I are planting a raised bed garden. Well, let’s be honest, mostly SHE is planting the garden and I am financing it. My grandpa used to say that gardening was soothing to the soul. Through this adventure, I am finding that there is a lot of truth in that. I can see why people use gardening as a form of stress relief.
Wellness is not just physical. In order to be truly well we need to focus on our mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health. Some people say they feel guilty when relaxing or doing things for themselves. I used to feel that way a lot. But a wise flight attendant once said that in an emergency, you have to put your oxygen mask on before you can help others. I know we live in a fast-paced world. Let’s normalize taking care of ourselves! Check out these suggestions for some ideas on ways to reduce stress and practice self-care. You can also take a look at the download’s library for a great guide on Coping with COPD.
Let’s chat! What are some ways that you practice self-care and reduce stress?