My De-stress Routine

There are so many things that cause us to feel anxiety and stress.  Personally, I have watched the daily decline of the stockmarket, which today, went below 7000 for the first time since 1997.  Equally as sharp as the stock market decline has been the incline in my children’s text messages and cell phone minutes.  I have a million business ideas and don’t know where to start.  And, I need to start spring cleaning (which for me is to finish putting away the last of the Christmas decorations) and I need to get all of my tax information ready for the Accountant.  I start to-do lists and put reminders on the calendar.  Lot’s of time they just get moved from day to day.  So what do we do when we feel like we are out of control?

Here is my de-stress routine:

1. The one thing that works for me faithfully is to get up each morning before the rest of the family and world and write in my journal directly to God. He says He wants to be with me and that He cares about all of the details of my life.  I am taking His word for it and writing to Him about everything.  I pray for family, friends and clients.  I tell God about all of my ideas.  I ask Him to help me carry my worries.  I even write to Him about what I am reading, lists of things to get my act together, and praises and thanks for the blessings He brings each day.
2. I can procrastinate with the best of you.  Sometimes I just have to make a list and get to it. I can say that some times the conversation in my head is like a parent to a child.  “I know you don’t want to do it.  Just start and it will get easier.”  “I will in just a minute.”  “You know as well as I do that a minute will turn into thirty.  Stop what you are doing and get started on the list now!”  Once I begin, momentum always, always kicks in.
3. Often worry grabs hold of me during the day for no particular reason.  Just general anxiety.  My mind races and I think of a million things I should be working on.  The thoughts are zooming by so fast that I can’t focus long enough to get anything done.  This is when I have to go outside. Especially if it is sunny.  Go outside and sit in the sun or take a walk.  Pray the whole time.  Ask God to give you peace and to stop your mind from racing.  Look at nature and take a few minutes to appreciate God’s creation.
4. If you feel like you are getting depressed or you really don’t know what you need to do, “look around at what needs to be done and do it.” This could be a volunteer activity, helping someone in the family, or just start working on something in your house.  When we are productive and helping others, momentum kicks in.

It really is the majority of people that do NOTHING when they are worried or stressed.  Unless doing NOTHING is a form of prayer for you, do SOMETHING.  Isolation, lethargy and procrastination are a formula for depression. If you want to keep depression and anxiety away focus on spending time with God, helping others, and just get started doing SOMETHING.  Soon God will provide direction or bear fruit from your efforts.