7 Easy Ways to Relieve Stress

Are you feeling stressed? Stress has a way of creeping up on you. Family and work obligations can pile up and increase our workload until suddenly we find ourselves maxed out and losing our patience or experiencing physical symptoms like headaches or neck pain. Stress affects our physical and emotional health in many ways! So let’s talk about some healthy easy to manage it.

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The light of Christ shines in the darkest places.


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Remember Jesus’ agony in the garden? He knows about stress and anxiety. Turn to God in your moments of stress and find peace and stillness inside of your relationship with your Creator.


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My new book, Whisper: Finding God in the Everyday, is still available for pre-order! We will be hosting a mini book club, right here in the podcast, beginning in June. I hope you will join us!

7 Easy Ways to Relieve Stress

  1. Exercise!

 You knew I was going to say this, but it’s true. Physical activity relieves stress and is good for you in so many other ways as well. But it doesn’t have to look like a “fitness program”if that’s not your thing.You can go for short walks or run up and down the stairs or have an impromptu dance party in your office or living room. Also, check out the Peloton app for lots of flexible workouts and ideas.

  1. Enjoy something.

Indulge in a scented bath or candle or a sweet treat. Listen to music you love that relaxes you or enjoy some other small pleasure.

  1. Think about caffeine.

You might not think caffeine affects you, but it can increase stress and anxiety in subtle ways. Maybe consider drinking less of it or giving yourself a “caffeine curfew” by stopping at a certain point each day.

  1. Write down your feelings.

Journaling can be a great way to express negative feelings and gain some perspective on the things that are causing you stress. Making a detailed “to-do” list can keep you from running it through your head non-stop as well.

  1. Connect with others.

Physical and emotional connection with friends and family will give you the comfort and rest you crave when you are feeling stressed. Reach out to a friend or simply hug your kids or snuggle on the couch with  your husband.

  1. Cut some stuff out.

Look at your schedule and decide what you can skip for now or forever to decrease stress in your life. Learn to say no nicely and reduce your workload in ways that will free up your time for relaxation.

  1. Pray.

Remember Jesus’ agony in the garden? He knows about stress and anxiety. Turn to God in your moments of stress and find peace and stillness inside of your relationship with your Creator. 

At the end of today’s show, Itake a question from listener Carrie about whether I wrote Whisper specifically for moms. Spoiler alert: I did not! I share about my perspective on who the book is for.

I have received so much feedback from all of you about my book and the first chapter that I shared with you at the end of episode 210Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood is a book in which I share from my heart about the very real changes, challenges, triumphs, and joys of being a mom in an “emptying nest.” You can read that sample chapter at Ave Maria Press. 

My book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth, is available for order! Use the code, GIRLFRIENDS to receive ten percent off your order. Don’t miss out on this special available exclusively to listeners of the Girlfriends podcast. 

Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you!

RESOURCES

Walking with God: A Journey through the Bible

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Megan Madden

Megan Madden is a homeschooling mother with a passion for writing and speaking on authentic femininity and virtuous womanhood. In 2017, she began graduate studies in marriage and family at the International Theological Institute in Austria. After moving to Kraków, Poland to work with university students, Megan more personally continued her research on the complementarity of man and woman, particularly on the question of what it means to be a woman. She delved into the study of renowned Catholic writers on women such as St. Edith Stein, Gertrude von le Fort, Alice von Hildebrand, St. John Paul II, and St. Teresa of Avila.

The results were the development of Megan’s online ministry A Mother’s Lace, as well as speaking opportunities and her book with Ascension: Mary, Teach Me to Be Your Daughter.

Megan lives outside of Oxford, England with her husband, who is a lecturer in theology, and their five children.

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