How To Survive Tough Times in Life

I was going through some old journals recently and came across a page I had titled "How To Survive May 2018."

May 2018 I was going through a series of major life stressors. I made the decision to end my 19-year career, something I had put off far too long out of fear. My health was poor (mostly due to job stress) and I was in a lot of pain. I had gone through a divorce the year prior, and was planning an out-of-state move.

It was a lot.

I needed a plan, and this is what I decided to do:

> Relax.

1. Sleep more.
2. Don't pressure or push myself.
3. Do what I enjoy.

> Be creative.

1. Write.
2. Dream/plan remodel and decor of my new place.
3. Dream/plan business ideas.

> Purge and organize, little by little.

1. Start in one room.
2. OK to do a little at a time.
3. Be in the moment and let it be a soothing, healing activity.

> Exercise and take care of my health.

1. Five minutes of gentle yoga or living room dancing.
2. Relaxing, mindful cooking and eating.
3. Sip filtered water, keep a glass nearby.

> Let go of stress and annoyance.

1. My weight.
2. My job/doing everything perfectly up to the end.
3. My pay getting docked.
4. Worrying about what others think of me quitting.
5. My colleagues' dramas.

> Trust my instincts and talk to God.

Enough said.


Your lists might be different from mine, but if you are going through a tough, high-stress period in your life, I encourage you to sit down with a journal and make a plan.

1. What things can you do to relax and go into self-nurture mode?
2. What creative activities help you escape and put your mind on something you enjoy?
3. What tiny areas in your living space can you work on cleaning, clearing out, and/or organizing (this doesn't sound appealing, but the calm and good feeling it produces is unmatched, trust me! It can be one drawer. One tabletop. One square foot of a tabletop.)
4. What easy, relaxing, self-nurturing things can you do to move your body and take care of your health?
5. What higher power or source of comfort can you turn to? Journaling, prayer, affirmations, a gratitude list...even if it feels stilted at first, with daily practice and diligence all these things do make a difference.

I hope that whoever needs to hear this today is helped. :)

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