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Hitting the Pause Button! 5 Strategies for Reducing Stress and Learning to Rest

By Kelly · 23 Comments

Hit Pause 5 Ways to Reduce Stress

It’s February. It’s flu season. And frankly, we’ve had our share of wintertime chills and thrills around here, including all of us battling the flu, which surprisingly resulted in me developing pneumonia. Ugh!

It’s definitely been a long time since I’ve been this sick, which made me puzzled about what’s up? Bad flu season for sure, but could I have done something more to avoid getting so sick?

I found myself thinking … maybe if I had just eaten more perfectly, or had used essential oils more often, or had taken more supplements, or maybe …

Maybe, I just need to learn to hit the ‘pause’ button?

Personally, after spending a week in bed with the flu, followed by another week in bed with pneumonia, I’ve decided there’s one thing in particular that most of us neglect when it comes to our health – REST!

And by that, I mean resting both the body and mind by making it a priority to reduce the stress in our daily lives.

We’re busy people with busy lives and busy kids. Busy schedules rule our world. The calendar is crammed, the ‘to-do’ is too long and we often get into a cycle of constant activity that can lead to stress.

And when we’re stressed, we tend not to rest, which is what our bodies and minds need most.

Instead, we keep running the race at an ever-escalating pace – trying to ‘do’ even more to alleviate those feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed out.

I know that’s what happened to me. I got caught in the vicious cycle of “too much to do and too little time to do it.” My constant on-the-go, must-do-everything lifestyle is what I blame for my recent health implosion, which led to a new recipe I’m hoping you never create …

Recipe for Disaster

Ingredients:
• 1 part too little sleep (be sure to get less than 5 hours per night)
• 1 part no rest (do not stop to rest in any form or fashion)
• 2 parts stress (keep piling on more, you’ll find the time somehow)

Instructions:
Mix these together, and keep mixing, and mixing, until you collapse. Enjoy!

10361331_10153845694909897_420223957285532849_nThe above recipe really works! But I seriously do not recommend it. See, here’s a pretty picture of me lying in a ball of hurt at the local urgent care while they run around trying to decide whether or not to admit me to the hospital. It’s not a picture I’m proud of, and not because I’m having a bad hair day.

It’s because I know how important rest is to maintain good health, and yet, I stubbornly thought I could just keep plowing away and take time to rest later. (Um, I think we can see that’s not a good idea.)

My point in sharing this is that I know that the majority of you sweet friends reading this are probably doing the same thing. Maybe not with as much reckless abandon as I’ve been … but still … you probably aren’t making “rest” a priority in your life, are you? Let’s be honest.

To promote good health and well-being, our bodies and minds need daily periods of REST, which comes not only from adequate sleep, but also from reducing stress in our lives so that we’re not living in a constant state of red alert.

So how do we hit the pause button?

5 Strategies for Reducing Stress and Learning to Rest

Below are five strategies I’m employing to reduce the stress in my life and make rest more of a priority. These aren’t the only methods for reducing stress and creating a more balanced lifestyle, but they are a great place to start if you’re feeling overwhelmed and not sure how you can possibly find time in your schedule to rest.

1. Calendar Control
Rather than have our calendars rule us, we need to keep a tight reign on our calendars. Easier said than done, I know! But it has to happen so we can focus on what’s truly important, as well as reduce stress in order to safeguard our health.

Blocking out time for daily quiet time and family time has to be a priority that we schedule first in order for it to actually happen. Otherwise, those open blocks of time will always be filled with other seemingly urgent tasks that steal time away from what’s truly important.

2. Learning to Say NO!
Of course, taking control of our calendars often means learning to say no. That can be hard when there are so many good things that we feel we should to say yes to. But if we say yes to too many things, then we end up having to compromise in not being able to do everything with excellence, and we may end up compromising our health as well.

That’s why I appreciate these two posts from The Better Mom – “Saying No to 100 Things” and “When Saying No is the Best Thing You Can Do.” These posts have helped me to see the wisdom in learning to say no. I hope these posts minister to your heart as well, if saying no is something you struggle with too.

3. Daily Quiet Time
Quiet TimeAs I’m learning to take control of my calendar, I’ve committed to making sure that each day I’ve scheduled time to quiet my body and mind through daily meditation on God’s Word and in prayer. This daily period of quiet time amid the chaos of day-to-day life not only helps me to hit the pause button, even more important, it brings me closer to God.

Personally, the times I’ve been the most overwhelmed, stressed and anxious, have been the times that I’ve found myself chasing after what I thought was best, rather than seeking God’s will for my life. Daily quiet time with the Lord reminds me that He is our refuge, and He promises to lift us up on wings like eagles and give us the strength and grace we need to accomplish everything He sets before us, whether big or small.

4. Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Not only is the right amount of sleep important for feeling alert and energized, it’s also the key to good health in general. Many health benefits result from consistently getting a good night’s sleep, including less stress, reduced inflammation, increased mental acuity, better mood, an improved immune system, and a healthier metabolism.

Experts say adults should aim for 7-9 hours each night. I’ve found that one of the most important factors is to keep your bedtime and wake-up time consistent. This healthy habit helps stabilize your body’s natural circadian rhythm, which not only impacts your sleep-wake cycle, but also influences hormone release, body temperature, cell regeneration, and other important biological functions.

5. Be Present: Enjoy Your Real Life!
How many times do we zip through the day constantly staring at a screen? This alternate realm of existence – texting, social media, emails, blogs – is not only time consuming, it’s mentally exhausting! And, it often hinders us from enjoying the real people right in front of us.

That’s why it’s so important to Look Up! Online friends are great, but we need to make a conscience commitment to taking a break from technology, so we don’t miss out on connecting with the in-real-life friends and family around us. I’m sure you’ll find, just like I have, that you’ll experience far less stress and a lot more joy as you turn off the electronics and tune in to real life.

Walking with My Family

Finding balance is a process…

I wish there was a magic formula for maintaining a healthy balanced life, but achieving the right balance looks different for each person, although I do firmly believe that reducing stress and finding more time for rest are certainly key aspects in the process.

Personally, since following the above five strategies, I’ve gone from feeling completely overwhelmed and stressed-out, to experiencing more peace, hope and joy, as well as much more gratitude.

I’m learning once again, that reducing stress is such an important part of a healthy lifestyle! And of course, that daily resting in God and His promises benefits the mind, body and soul!

My hope is that you’ll join me in hitting the pause button, and making time to rest your mind and body more of a priority in your busy life too!

Wishing you peace, joy and good health, Kelly

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Happy Wives Club {A Favorite Read}

By Kelly · 2 Comments

Summertime is a great time to dive into some great books! Since reading is a passion of mine, I love sharing with you all (from time-to-time) books that truly inspire me. So, if you love a good book too, then allow me to share with you a truly remarkable book you won’t want to miss!

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Happy Wives Club

If could send one book to every married woman, it would be Happy Wives Club. Author Fawn Weaver is a sweet friend of mine and I’ve been wanting to tell you all about her amazing book for quite some time now.

Of course, with all the craziness of writing and photographing my upcoming grain-free cookbook these past nine months, I’ve been hard pressed for time. So I waited until now to share with you this amazing treasure because I wanted to give it the full attention and praise it truly deserves.

Why I love this book!

bookPage after page, Happy Wives Club contains amazing and inspiring stories of women who share their secrets for building happy, fulfilling marriages. Fawn traveled across the world, literally, to connect with real women who know from experience what it takes to make marriage great. As you travel along with Fawn, you’ll meet everyday women from across the globe who share what they’ve discovered in their 25+ years of being happily married.

In fact, that’s what I love most about this book – it’s real! This isn’t the typical “top 10 tips to a happier marriage” book, but instead is a collection of inspiring stories about real happily married women who live real everyday lives, sharing their experiences in what it takes to make marriage what God intended it to be – joyful, fulfilling and a reflection of His love and glory.

Another facet of the book that really makes it remarkably insightful and encouraging is that with each story, you’ll find Fawn’s candid and wise observations as she eloquently extrapolates the truths of what makes marriage a blessing. As a true champion of marriage, you’ll find yourself eagerly turning the pages to hear Fawn’s words of hope and encouragement – her passion and enthusiasm for marriage is truly contagious and refreshing!

If I sound a bit like I’m gushing here, it’s because I guarantee you that this book will brighten your outlook on marriage and bring you deeper joy and encouragement as you discover how beautiful marriage can be when it’s tended with love and care. As Fawn wisely relays, “Happiness is a choice! Choose your spouse every day. And make the choice to create the life – and marriage – of your dreams.”

Happy Wives Club has certainly made an impact in my marriage and I know it will yours too!

For more about Fawn and to receive daily inspiration for making marriage great, be sure to “join the club” by subscribing to her amazing website at HappyWivesClub.com.

Disclosure: I received a free advance reader’s copy of this book for review. However, the opinions expressed are my honest thoughts after reading this book. Also note, this post contains Amazon affiliate links. There is no obligation to purchase, however if you opt to purchase this book using the links provided, a small portion of the sale goes to support The Nourishing Home at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

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3 Ways to Simplify Your Life that Have Nothing to Do with Your Stuff

By Kelly · 9 Comments

I’m delighted to have a special guest visiting with us – it’s Nina from Shalom Mama. If there’s anyone who knows the art of simplifying, it’s Nina. That’s why I’m thrilled to have her here sharing a bit of her wisdom with us …

by Nina at Shalom Mama
A few years ago, I discovered a fascinating blog that shared the story of a family that had downsized so much, they were able to live in an RV and travel full-time. I was amazed, both at their ability to live in such a small space and how they were able to walk away from a consumer-driven lifestyle to a simpler existence.

I wanted that.

I was drawn to the idea of getting rid of the clutter – both in my house and in my mind. There was so much discontentment in my life that I knew that something had to change. I believed that God had led me to the idea of simplifying. And I really wanted to spend less time cleaning.

10656802466_8258f7ce8c_c

Nina & family inside their school-bus turned RV home.

My husband laughed off the idea, but I got to work, doing what I could to simplify my clothing, household items and our kids’ stuff. I did my best to convey how awesome it was to live so simply, but he was still skeptical. It wasn’t until we moved that he was on board – he realized he had a lot of stuff he didn’t use. (These tips also helped him get on board.)

Since then, we’ve simplified a lot – our time, our possessions and even our home. Today, we live in a school bus turned RV with our four small children. That life that I wanted because it sounded so awesome? I have it.

I have been so blessed by this pursuit of a simpler life … including having a lot less cleaning to do.

But mostly, I love the way this lifestyle has helped me to grow and mature. There have been so many lessons that I’ve learned in this process (and it’s a continual process) that have really transformed the way I go about my life. I encourage everyone who asks about simplifying to pursue a simpler life. And no, you don’t have to want to live in a bus to live more simply.

Simplifying is a Process

I mistakenly thought that a simple life was dependent on having a small amount of possessions, a tiny house and a clear schedule, but it’s not. Living a simple life is really a continual process of intentional actions.

While getting rid of a bunch of stuff helps – a lot – don’t forget that simplicity is a process, a lifelong one. And these practices, more than anything else, will help you as you move toward the simpler life you desire (whatever that may look like):

1. Practice Gratitude

Whether you’ve just been introduced to the idea of living simply (and love it) or have decluttered your house a number of times, it’s important to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. This will help whenever you feel discouraged and make the process so much more enjoyable. Give thanks for what you’ve been blessed with. Give thanks for the desire to simplify. Give thanks for the way God is working in your heart. Above all else, give thanks.

2. Cultivate Contentment

The habit of gratitude and contentment go hand-in-hand. There are times when I look around my bus and think, “Well, if we just had this done, or if we could just travel here or park there …” This tends to set me off on a spiral of negative thoughts that leave me feeling pretty discontent with our situation. It is always stopped, though, with prayer, gratitude and the reminder that cultivating contentment improves all circumstances.

3. Remember Your Why

If you want to simplify, it’s important to write down why. Is it so you can travel? Pay off debt? Build more meaningful relationships with your spouse, kids and friends? Remembering your why helps you incorporate your goal into the process so you don’t find yourself in a tiny house one day saying, “Now what?” Simplify with purpose.

Remember, simplifying is a lifelong process that starts with one simple decision and the determination to intentionally move forward. Enjoy your journey!

Have you decided to to simplify? What does the process look like for you?

ninasphotolensMeet Nina!
Nina is a Jesus follower, wife, mama of four and school bus dweller. She blogs regularly at Shalom Mama and loves helping others simplify natural living. Check out her website for more simple tips and connect with her on Facebook or Google+.

 

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My New Cookbook is Here!

Welcome to The Nourishing Home!

I’m so glad you’re here and want you to feel right at home! My heart in creating this blog is to help you by sharing helpful meal planning strategies and nourishing GF recipes that are healthy, easy and delicious with thanksgiving to God! [Read More …]







All content (recipes, photos, posts, etc.) on this site is the creative property of Kelly Smith. You are welcome to share a photo via social media, as long as it contains a link back to the corresponding recipe or post from this site. However, you may not republish a recipe in its entirety in any form. For questions, or for permission to use a photo or recipe, please contact me via email at [email protected] Thank you!

Please Note: All content (recipes, photos, text, etc.) on this site is the creative property of Kelly Smith of The Nourishing Home. You are welcome to share a photo via social media, as long as it contains a link back to the corresponding recipe from this site. However, re-publishing a recipe in any form is strictly prohibited. Additionally, please refrain from adapting recipes without properly linking back to the original recipe, and keep in mind that simple substitutions do not constitute an adapted or original recipe. For details regarding recipe copyright law, please visit the Food Blog Alliance.
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