Healthy Distractions for Peace During Stressful Times
By: Jackie Schwabe, Mba
Tags: Stress Management, Stress And Anxiety, Stress Relief, Stress Management Tips, Mental Health

Practical Wisdom

Healthy Distractions for Peace During Stressful Times

I don’t know about you, but when things get stressful, I don’t always select the healthiest distractions. First, I am a huge … I mean super huge … fan of Cheetos. So, any good excuse to scarf down some Cheetos, and I make it. Yet, it seems that there are not just stressful moments, now days there seems to be stressful times, weeks, months, nearly a year. So, I had to put down the Cheetos and get read with finding better ways to cope.

Even with all the stuff going on in the world, I hope you too realize we can’t just let the pressures of all these things we can’t control bury you in a bag of Lay’s or under a tub of Ben and Jerrys. If things are just getting to be too much for you, like they were for me, just know you can step back, turn off all the dang ringers and notifications that pull your attention back to the mess. It is okay to rest. It is okay to be in silence and let your head get a break.

This is the reason that I keep writing about mental health. One of the best ways that we can stay healthy — overall — is to make some better choices when we are overwhelmed. If you let all the things you can’t control overwhelm you there are likely to be some mighty nasty mental health side effects. So, here are a few more tips for better and healthier distractions. (But … I’m still gonna eat the Cheetos, just sayin’!)

Here is a list of a few less destructive ways to promote mental wellness. You will most definitely need to experiment to see what might work best for you — but at least you have some ideas of where to start. Some of you will have already found great ways to help keep the peace … if you have … share! If not, see if any of these floats your boat.

Get Jiggy With It — Movement

Yep. Move your arse. I know it is a cliché. I know that everyone tells you to distract your mind by moving your body. Just saying folks, sometimes “everybody” is right. If you are not someone that normally shakes their groove thing .. no worries. Just start moving around. You can go for a walk. You can dance. You can do Yoga. You can chase your husband around the kitchen with a carving knife … no wait, don’t do that.

No, really. After two weeks of 30-minute walks every day, you are going to feel better. Walking, while not as consistent as I like, has been my saving grace. I feel amazing afterward. I love the outdoors and I love to smell the fresh air and hear the birds and the wind. Although I wish I could hear my butt getting smaller … that hasn’t happened yet — but I digress. Some of you will actually get the benefit of a slimmer waist from consistent exercise. If you haven’t tried yet — why not?

Get in My Belly — Meal Preparation

Sometimes all we need to be distracted is something productive to do. If you are feeling all out of sorts, why not start meal prepping for the week. You feel like you got something done and you get to decide what goes in your belly for the week. You can make some more healthy choices. Meal prep can help your mind stay focused and helps you physically by putting more nutritious stuff in your face. Cause, where I like it or not, diet plays a role in our mental health.

Ohm — Meditation

Admittedly meditation was something I didn’t start until about 5 years ago or so. But I really do enjoy it. There are so many ways to meditate and so many supports to help make it easy. You can just set aside five minutes in the morning or evening to sit and take some deep breaths. Focus on your body, your emotions, or just the sound of nothing. Then let it all go.

Still, your body, still your mind, and breathe in and out as deeply as you can. With each exhale let go of a stressor. Each inhale bringing in positive energy from the universe or your bedroom (ya’know whatever). This is a great way to set an intention at the beginning of the day, and a great way to end a day on a positive note no matter what has happened.

If you are not sure where to start — I have put together a course that you all get FREE: https://jackieschwabe.mykajabi.com/offers/6VrSx2os?coupon_code=LESSSTRESS You might ask why free. Well, cause the world needs less stress and more breath.

Play with Your Kiddos Outside

Now, you all know by now that I am a realist. So, playing with your kiddos outside might actually throw your butt over the edge. If that is the case, skip this and check out the next option. However, it might help you all out if you put the electronics down and went outside to play. The best time to stay distracted and promote everyone’s mental health is with a little sunshine. You will feel the fresh air, get vitamin D, and spend quality time with your kids. This is a possible way to ensure your kids are also staying mentally healthy as well.

Journal

If you have followed me in any sort of way over the years, you know I love to write. So, if you are feeling angry, sad, or overwhelmed, consider whether or not writing might be a good outlet. It can help you get the negative thoughts and energy out of your head without having it come out of your mouth. It can also help some people feel like they are getting the energy-draining thoughts out of their heads.

Journaling is also something you can do anytime and anyplace. One word of caution, if you don’t want anyone to read it — don’t leave it out. I might have used some unfriendly words to describe someone — who totally deserved it — once and accidentally hurt their feelings — this will not bring you the peace you are seeking. Yet, you can journal to get it out, to learn how to express yourself better, or to just articulate in a better way what precisely is the problem that you are needing to sort through.

Focusing on Mental Health is Just as Important as Focusing on Physical Health

If I said it once, I said it … okay all cliches aside. Things might be a bit nutso for you right now. So finding healthy ways to distract yourself can really help promote your mental health. It might seem like a daunting task, especially when you are already overwhelmed, but you can only each so many Cheetos. Trust me, I have tried.

Try instead to step back and acknowledge your current situation and decide a new way of showing up. Learn to let go, if you can. Learn to let the negative energy out of your body and your brain. If none of that works, consider seeking the support of a habit coach to get yourself back on track. This free app — https://www.coach.me/PressPlay_Lifestyle?ref=135Kp — at coach.me can help you stay on track with your new, smarter, less orange habits for the better.

Coach Jackie Out

P.S. If you are looking for other ideas on protecting your mental health, check these out.