There is a season for all things...including stress!
I am not a fan of it any more than many of you. Unfortunately every school year starts the same for me. Especially this year.
I freak out, yell, snap at people, stare at a computer screen all day, and then by the end of the day, I am confused as to if I actually completed my task.
Sound familiar? Or maybe this is just me.
As a PCOS woman, it is critical that I manage my stress effectively. If I do not, the consequences are increased cortisol levels which leads to that unwanted extra weight.
There are other stressors that women with PCOS should be on the lookout...more details are in the video below.
However, my endeavor today is to give you some ideas to manage your stress when the pressure is on and you have a lot to accomplish. So here are a few things that I utilize this time of year that I believe will help serve you too.
Take small breaks: 5 minutes, that is it. Walk away from the computer, stay off your phone. Just get up, walk down the hallway and back or take a quick stroll outside. Just 5 minutes can really help clear the mind. Set a timer on your phone if you need to. I try to do this once an hour or every other hour.
Ask for help: there is seriously nothing wrong with asking for help. I struggle with this one too, so I hear you on this. Find someone that can do some of the things you really do not want to do. You could even hire that work out. That $20 (or more depending on the task) may be the best money you ever spent!
Breath: Yes...we already do this daily...thanks smarty pants out there...what I mean is take a moment, close your eyes, take a deep breath in and slowly exhale. Repeat this a few times as needed before getting back after it. When we take a moment to get in some good oxygen, our brain can focus more on your current task.
Lastly, Dim the lights and close the door: Some people feel this is a bit strange, but stay with me for a second. When you dim the lights, you will focus on what is right in front of you. The squirrels in your mind will not notice your surroundings as much, so if you can pull this off, it is a great tool. Also closing your door mostly is a signal that you are focusing on something. You are less likely to get interrupted or at least people are more thoughtful of interrupting you (usually) when you door is even just partly closed.
Give some of these a try and let me know how effective they were for you. Also feel free to share what some of your favorite stress management tricks are.
When we have better management of our stressors, we not only thrive, but we soar!
Here is to soaring,
Terra
