The following content is part of a paid partnership with Community Care Plan. Opinions expressed in “Simple Ways I Have Found To Relieve Stress” are that of my own.
I think it is an understatement to say that the last year was stressful – maybe even one of the most stressful times in our lives. Personally I went from one week sending my kids off to school, to the next coordinating their school fulltime from my house. Not to mention my husband started working from home, we stopped going out, and I found myself cooking and cleaning, as well as what felt like entertaining 3 kids nonstop.
This was an upheaval to my routine and I completely lost of control of my “normal” life. Now I might have complained a bit more, or completely broken down, but I had 3 kids who needed me to be strong. Plus, I realized how lucky we were and the true suffering of others. I needed to keep it together and that prompted me to start looking for ways to help relieve stress.
So how did I do it? What are these simple ways I have found to relieve stress during one of the most stressful times in my life?
Routine:
Once everything went into complete chaos I immediately started to establish a new routine. Simple actions like making my bed, getting dressed, and waking the kids along with prepping for their school, helped me to feel a bit more in control.
Exercise:
Along with establishing a new routine, I began to go for walks after my children finished up their schoolwork. Not only was this improving overall health, but it was helping burn off any stress from teaching. My husband was home and I was able to spend about an hour to myself. As time went on, I even invested in a stepper to change up how I was exercising.
Sleep:
Personally, when I don’t get proper sleep everything seems to be 10 times worse. Plus, when I was having to assist my kids, I needed a clear mind to answer questions or guide them in the right direction for school. Getting at least 8 hours seems to help me relieve stress.
Nature:
Speaking of exercising, this had an extra bonus of getting me outside into the fresh air. I don’t happen to run into many people while I am out, so I really get to soak in the sounds of nature. As a family, we started to venture out to more outdoor activities and even made a seating area outside to enjoy.
Streaming:
Finding a new television show or movie gave me something positive to look forward to. Even if we were watching as a family, it was a little reward for us to look forward to after our daily work was completed.
Hobbies:
Back to the topic of nature, I have always had a love of gardening and found that weeding beds, starting new plants, and watering the yard was very relaxing. What I find in gardening another person might find in reading, painting, or even assembling puzzles as well as model car kits.
Talking To Someone:
I am fortunate to have a good circle of friends and family that I could call and text during the height of the pandemic. It really helped bridge the divide and provide some normalcy. I also took the time to play board games with my kids and hang out with them as they played. We had a lot of great conversations and laughter and if I didn’t have this in my life, I would have considered talking to a mental health provider.
Things have definitely improved since the beginning of the pandemic, my husband is now back at work and the kids are in brick and mortar school. There is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel and it feels like we are coming out stronger as a family. Although this was a challenging time, I will look back on the positive moments with fondness and remember the fun conversations we shared.
Thanks to Community Care Plan for teaming up with me to share some tips on stress management. This health plan with a heart serves the community through access to a high standard of health care and community resources. They offer an excellent choice of physicians and benefits that help members get and stay healthy. Click here to learn more.
Carlee @ FLL
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