STRESS…we all have it!

Stressed? Overwhelmed? What to do...
Stress comes up for everyone in different ways. It might be rare, occasional or even seasonal. When I decided to write on the topic of stress this month it didn't even dawn on me that a number of holidays are coming up, and how overwhelming those can be.

First off, I would like you to know that some stress is not only normal but it's even healthy! Who would've thought that??!! To me healthy stress is stepping outside of your comfort zone and doing activities that make you feel slightly uncomfortable. On the opposite end if you seem to experience chronic stress and even anxiety I would take a closer look as to what is going on externally and internally.
We must also remember the "side-effects" of stress. Mentally it can overwhelm our mind and spirit making us less focused and to an extreme living in a constant fog. Physically it affects our entire body with feelings of tension and can even lead to pain.

These days, in our overwhelming society stress usually stems from not taking the time to step back and observe what is going on in our lives. And, how we can change what we are doing.
What baby steps can we take to eventually have limited stress and anxiety in our lives???

Whether we take a big step back or concentrate on the moment I always go back to two simple activities that help mentally and physically clear stress.
Breathing, taking in 5 slow and deep breathes through my nose and out my nose.
Walking, taking a slow or quick walk around the block or even making it longer and spending time in a park.