Yesterday, as the sky was turning periwinkle and orange while the sun set, I picked up my phone and called the Husband.
I was calm and quiet as I asked, “When. Are. You. Coming. Home?“. Slow, deliberate, serious.
And with that simple question, the Husband instantly knew I had reached the end of my rope.
Sometimes, and it feels silly to say this, but Motherhood can be just irrationally stressful.
- Bananas smashed into freshly cleaned carpet. (maybe we should just buy that rented Rug-Doctor)
- A diaper stripped and thrown to the side while a naked little boy takes off down the hallway, looking for something to destroy (he found shampoo, by the way).
- Cloudy fish water because a certain Kidlet took it upon herself to “feed” her Betas with an ENTIRE BAG OF FOOD!
- And, of course, the endless chorus of “No, No, No, No, No, No, NOOOOOOO!” from the 5 year old, the 3 year old, and from the 18 month old … who is an over-achiever and has entered the Terrible Twos six months early.
Add to this our nightly routine of interrupted sleep. I deal with Baby Barney at least 3 times a night and my Husband handles the Little Lady, who wakes at least once a night.
We’re tired. Overwhelmed. Stressed.
(and this is just us dealing with Parenthood… never mind house closings, tax season, and every thing else that goes on in the grown-up world)
Stress. Anyone else feeling it? It’s not just us, right?
Meet Your Calm: Finding Ways to Combat Stress
My Husband stopped me in my tracks — literally. Putting his arms around me, the man looked me in the eyes and said, “You need to breathe and you need to find a way to de-stress.”
(he’s so astute)
So, what works for me?
1. Getting Physical — as I’ve worked the past 6 weeks to lose weight, I’ve learned that physical activity (for me, either running or strength training) helps tremendously in my battle against stress. As endorphins are released and my heart rate gets pumping, I forget about the negative aspects of a day. I breathe. And I stretch tight muscles. 30-40 minutes later, I have a new outlook.
2. Reading a Little Something — ok, so maybe this is the English teacher in me, but reading has always been a natural relaxant for this girl. Picking up a novel or grabbing a piece of non-fiction takes me away from my world of immediate problems and pressures. Daydreams about Mr. Darcy, anyone?
3. Taking Vitamins and Herbs — there is nothing wrong with making sure your body has all the nutrients and herbal supplements needed to naturally combat stress and boost your body’s ability handle it all.
Did you know …
Your adrenal glands release hormones in response to stress, so making sure your adrenal glands are functioning well is essential to combating stress. Holy Basil can help support your adrenal glands by maintaining equilibrium within the body’s stress system.
Consider what can help your body resist stress before it takes over. Schis andra berries provide powerful antioxidant protection and support mental endurance, nourishing the body’s natural defenses and reinforcing overall resistance to stress.
Beyond the physical implications, stress can have negative effects on your emotions. Rhodiola root helps support a healthy mood by normalizing cortisol levels and other stress-related hormones.
Stress can zap your energy. Rather than worry about how to create more, focus on conserving the energy you have. Ashwagandha supports your ability to conserve energy by rejuvenating your entire system, especially the endocrine and immune systems.
Restful sleep is essential to achieving optimal health, yet it’s a necessity often overlooked when trying to combat stress. Wild Oats contain relaxing properties that support your nervous system, promoting relaxation after a stressful day.
Meet YOUR Calm with Gaia Herbs {giveaway}
Gaia Herbs provides these stress-reducing herbs, along with countless other herbal supplements to help your body and mind stay healthy.
And, I think I need to stockpile the five I mentioned … at least through the teenage years.
Interested in trying them? Here’s a giveaway for you! One winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card and a $100 Gaia gift-basket. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below!
This post was inspired by Gaia Herbs. Meet your calm prize pack provided by Gaia Herbs. Compensation and Amazon Gift Card provided by Brandfluential.com.
