Signs you are TOO stressed

What do you do when you become too stressed?  

What role does it play on your health?

These are just some of the symptoms of being too stressed. If you are experiencing these symptoms(you may just be hormonal), please seek help from a friend, spouse, parent, a doctor, or a counselor depending on your preference. 

When it happens to me, there are a few steps that I take...

1. write out everything that is causing me stress and running through my head- free form- I just write it out.

2. Make a cup of tea.

3. Take a long hot bath and read a book for pleasure.  

4.  Step 4 is an as needed- sometimes I just need to have a good cry and admit I’m being utterly ridiculous

5.  Get a hug from my spouse- physical contact and knowing that it’s someone who cares about me, is very important. 

6.  Eat a good meal- nothing fried or overly fatty.  I try for lean meat or fish, a leafy green salad, a side green veggie, a piece of italian bread with butter, and a cup of milk.

7.  Go to bed early

 

In order to decrease the amount of time that you spend in the past the point of no return stress stage, do little things each week that decrease your stress. I take a bath with salts and oil at least once a week.  I try to start my morning with a cup of tea. I hug my spouse as often as possible.  I try to eat well.  These things keep me from hitting my too stressed point. 

Take some time to write down things that help you when you are stressed to the max. 

Have a great weekend!

Day in Day out,

Beth

10 Ways to Help you Reduce Stress RIGHT NOW!

If you think dealing with stress is not important to the population, take a look at the newsstands- Popular Science is even featuring Stress as their centerfold article this month.  

Stress is something we deal with all the time.  Most people do not even realize that what they are feeling it because it is such an inherent part of our lives.  Women are more stressed than men.  Employed people are less stressed than those who are unemployed.  Most of these things are a DUH right?  We all deal with stress on a daily basis and we all deal with it differently. 

People seem to think that feeling stress and showing that you are feeling stress is shameful.  There is NOTHING shameful about feeling stress or showing that you are stressed.  We live in a world where showing any feeling other than happiness is frowned upon.  GET OVER IT WORLD!  I love being a ray of sunshine, but the reality is that I get sad, stressed, lonely, and mad just like everyone else.   Show your feelings and emotions- it is stabilizing for the body.  

My body will clearly tell me if I’m too stressed.  I’ll start to get sores in my mouth and my immune system will take a hit.  It’s important to know what that point is for you.

The ideal would be to never get to the point where you are so stressed that your body is giving you clear warning signs, but most of us are so used to constant stress in our lives, that this can be hard to identify in it’s pre-stages. Stress will show itself in different ways in each person.  Often, we know what those signs are, but we ignore them. 

For instruction on giving yourself a hand massage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=168lKIyc3lw  and she has a great accent which is fun too!

Check in tomorrow to find out 10 ways to help yourself when your stress goes over the tipping point to TOO stressed and what impact it has on your health. 

Day in Day out,

Beth

Find yourself in the Quiet

It’s been more years than I can count since I really had time alone.  Today I sat in the quiet of my apartment taking that in and trying to see if I was lonely... or relieved. David has been a constant presence by my side for the last 22 months and I am beyond grateful his companionship and love.  Before that I had roommates through all 4 years of college,  15 at once for a year while I lived in the sorority house, and so for the first time, I’m sitting here alone. 

I forgot how nice it is to have some time to yourself.  It’s nice to think and plan and dream quietly all alone. We live in a world that values constant, instantaneous communication.  That constant communication can be wonderful or it can drain you. 

In valuing my quiet time to myself this morning, I put on the Pandora classical for studying as I have a biomechanics exam tomorrow, sat down at my computer, and started to study.  It was as simple as that.  I got up after 20 minutes of uninterrupted study and made a matcha smoothie all with quiet classical music playing in the background.  This new found quiet and peace is fabulous.  I forgot what time by myself felt like, and how productive I can be when I’m left to my own devices with no one to take my attention away from my tasks. 

Time by myself is a commodity that I didn’t realize I was missing.  I love being with my significant other.  He makes me a more relaxed and happy person.  But, we all need time alone.  It may be time spent meditating, sitting in a hot bath reading a smutty book, watching a football game,  or hiking a mountain, but that alone time is key to our personal development and stress relief.  Try to find some time to take today by yourself wherever is peaceful for you and just enjoy the silence.  You may find something you thought you lost long ago- yourself. 

Day in Day out,

Beth

ps.  Firework by the Dallas String Quartet is a great rethinking of the Katy Perry song.  It is relaxing, uplifting, and fun at the same time. Check them out on Pandora or Youtube. 

"To be"...and variations of(A fun activity) and #LoveMe challenge day 4

#Loveme Challenge day 4: Someone who loves me

My guy:  This is my guy.

He loves me unconditionally.  No matter how stressed/bitchy/happy/excited I am, he loves me. He is the person I want to build my life with.



For some reason I cannot get this rhyme out of my head. My 6th Grade English teacher, Mrs. Peters taught this to us to remember all of the sides of the word "to be".

This exercise is great for kinetic learners and it's fun!

(Take arm straight down the center for each of these)

Am        

Is

Are  

Was

Were 

(Take arm to the left for the first column, center for the second column, and right for the third)

Be                       Have              Do

   Being                  Has                Does

 Been                   Had                Did

(Hands windshield wiper from side to side)

Can      Could

Shall     Should

Will    Would

(Take arm straight down the center for each of these)

May

Might

Must

(Have kids put hands to sides and bring in like they are pulling weights in to their bodies)

Uh! 

This is stuck in my head.  I hope it can help you teach your children or students.  I don't want her amazing teaching and fun memory tools to be forgotten. 

HOT YOGA! 5 things you need

#Loveme Challenge day 3: A word that describes me

My word is Driven.  I am driven to do what makes me happy, brings me peace, and helps to better the world. For me, that is helping people through mental skills training. Everyone can be better in some way: better time management, awareness, talk less negatively about themselves, control their anger, learn to relax and let go, etc. That's where I come in. These are all things that can be taught.  The biggest demon: is the one between your ears. Learning to conquer those demons can help you do better in sports, at work, and in your personal life.


Today is also day 11 of my 100 day challenge.
I got in a yoga workout. A HOT yoga workout...I'll tell you all about it.  100+ degrees, candlelight, backlights, and an hour of yoga- I'm not sure I've been that sweaty in a year.  It was fabulous!

 If you haven't given hot yoga a try here is what you need...


1. Moisture wicking shorts and a moisture wicking tank. It's going to be REALLY hot.
2. A towel to wipe off the copious amounts of sweat that you will sweat.
3. The largest bottle of water you can find- filled with ice. It will melt during your class.
4.  If you have asthma, I would recommend also having your inhaler handy.  High heat and exercise can trigger asthma symptoms. 
5. A great attitude- if you like hot, you will be happy in the heat, but be aware, it is really hot.  Keep your attitude up.




Have a great day guys!
<3 B

5 Reasons Going to the Gyno Sucks- and 5 Reasons You Need To Go

I woke up early this morning and immediately regretted the decision, today is the day.  I have to go get my Well Woman check up for the year.  I kept putting it off because while I was working it was impossible to get time off to go take care of it.  Now that schooling is my primary function- my schedule opened up. I knew I needed to do it, but no woman enjoys going to see the Gynecologist.

5 Reasons Going to the Gyno Sucks
1. Everyone has cold hands.  I have never met one who has warm hands- nurses, techs, or the doctor.  BRRR
2. Being partially or fully naked with a little paper sheet to cover you.  Being cold sucks! Cold hands +cold room+ naked= NOT HAPPY
3. Sharing personal information about your sexual habits and activities with someone who is not a trusted friend or your spouse/sexual partner. - AWKWARD
4. Not knowing how much to share with the doctor. Every symptom may be something, but most of us are not comfortable sharing these things with our doctor. We are constantly afraid something is wrong with us.- FEAR
5. Someone who is not you or your spouse/sexual partner touching your lady parts- UNCOMFORTABLE

5 Reasons you need to go to the Gyno
1.  Pap smears are only every 3 years now!
2. You need to talk about your sexual health with someone other than friends and your partner.  A doctor knows a lot more about your reproductive system than you do.
3. Making sure to get an exam yearly will lead to higher detection of abnormal symptoms - breast lumps, cervical cancer etc.
4. Just like you get a yearly physical from your primary care physician, you need a check of your lady parts once a year.  Guys turn and cough, we get probed. Just do it.
5. Your birth control that you have been taking may be screwing with your emotions, period pain, menstrual cycle, likelihood of getting pregnant, etc- talk to your Gynecologist every year about whether what you are currently taking is serving you well and whether there may be something better on the market for you.  If you have an IUD- YOU NEED TO GO YEARLY TO HAVE IT CHECKED!

Extra tips:

• If something seems weird -it probably is- write it down and call your Gynecologist to make an appointment. 
•  Do not stay with a gynecologist who you do not like- you have every right to switch to someone who makes you more comfortable. 
•   Ladies still in school- even if your university has a womens' health center- you may be better off going to an off campus provider- Just make sure it's covered by your insurance. 

#Loveme Challenge Day 2

A picture of me- right after working out

I love my body!  I am not doing my 100 day challenge to change my body because I feel negative towards it!  I'm working out because it's good for me and because working out brings more serotonin into my blood stream(it's the chemical that makes you feel happy). I LOVE this body!  It enables me to do everything I want(except for handstands and splits- but I'm working on getting there)

Happy Monday!

<3 B

100 Day Challenge- Day 9+10 #Loveme day 1

100 Day Challenge Day 9+10

So, I wrote yesterday, looked back on it today and decided not to post it.  Sometimes that happens. I took the day off yesterday and today from working out. My body was so sore, I spent most of yesterday hydrating and sitting on a heat pad.


#Loveme Day 1: Why am I doing #Loveme?

I am doing the  #Loveme challenge because I want to. I haven't done a challenge of someone else's and I think it will be fun. On top of my own challenge it will encourage me to interact with other's who are doing this challenge and will foster personal growth.

For more information: http://pepperscraps.com/loveme-challenge-learn-to-love-you/


Here is a quick look at the last two days for me, in pictures...

 GO PATRIOTS!!!! 

SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had this wonderful black and tan beer by Mississippi Mud! With the buffalo chicken dip you see in the background. 

Here is what I did yesterday....Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi with Bacon- Basil Tomato Sauce

Go to recipe here!

It makes a ridiculous amount of gnocchi! For two of us, we had to freeze 2/3'rds of it.  Ready to have it again at least once this week!

Happy Weekend loves!

<3 B