Navigating Life Stress Waves

What if, instead of fearing stress and attempting to avoid it by all means, we acknowledged that it’s an inevitable part of life?

What if we learned to understand what triggers it for us?

What if we tried to engage with it and learn from it?

I want to advocate for stress once and for all.

First and foremost, stress isn’t always the villain it’s made out to be. In moderation, stress can actually benefit us: it can motivate us to perform at our best, encourage us to seek assistance and nurture our relationships. Secondly, it can serve as a signal that something needs to change.

In this article, I’d like to try to shift our focus from avoiding stress to getting to know it.

Our brain is designed to protect us

More than all the modern life stressors we are exposed to, our brain is hard-wired with a set of old-school alarm systems that ensure vigilance against potential threats, and unfortunately, this can amplify stress responses. Takeaway: Stress cannot be avoided altogether!

The trick isn’t battling stress (is that stress I smell?), but rather learning how to nurture our resilience muscle.

This is where the magic happens: through small, sustainable practices integrated into your daily routine.

How do we know which practices to integrate into our own routine? Self-awareness. Find what feels good.

Find what feels good

Here there are a few ideas for you to experiment with:

  • Moments of Mindfulness: Dedicate a few moments daily to mindfulness. No need to sit for hours in meditation! Feel the breeze, savour the aroma of your coffee, or get lost in a song. Give your mind a task and allow it to rest.

  • Gratitude Journaling: Each day, jot down a few things you’re grateful for. This practice shifts your focus from negativity to abundance and kicks the negativity bias in the tapioca balls.

  • Move and Groove: PPhysical activity is your stress-busting buddy. Whether it’s a brisk walk, a quick yoga session, or an impromptu living room dance-off – go with what resonates. My personal trick (which I’ll deny forever) is toothbrushing while dancing reggaeton. Get ready for an endorphin boost!

  • Tech Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between technology and downtime. Allocate specific intervals for checking emails and social media. Pay attention to which accounts trigger doubt or comparison, and unfollow them with no mercy! Comparison is the thief of joy, and that’s not what we’re here for.

  • Mindful Breathing: Practice deliberate, deep breathing. Inhale tranquillity, exhale stress.

  • Connect and Share: Engage in conversations with friends, embrace your loved ones, or join a community that shares your values. Watch the stress melt away.

  • Creative Outlet: Immerse yourself in a hobby that requires creativity for the sake of it! It can be painting, dancing, boxing, knitting, writing, gardening, or playing an instrument. Creativity redirects focus from stressors and just feels crazy good.

Is there anything in this list calling your curiosity? Go out there, find what feels good and do more of it!

Wrapping up

The objective isn’t to eradicate stress but to cultivate resilience in its presence and learn how to surf its waves.

Now you have a few examples of practices you can try out. You’re not wasting your time. By incorporating them, you’re equipping yourself to flourish amid life’s fluctuations.

Intentional recharging is work, and it has to be done.

Let’s embrace stress as a teacher – a cue to pause, allow, investigate, and recharge, one day at a time.

If you’re looking for help to establish mindfulness practice, I’ve got something that might help—my free mini-course called The Mindful Habit is designed to help you on your meditation journey.

The Mindful Habit is a gentle online self-paced program that includes a few different mindfulness practices, Meditation, Journaling and Yoga, and will guide you towards a more resilient and balanced way of being.

If you’re looking to bring more peace and equilibrium into your life, you’ll find value in it.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. You’ve got this, keep going, and keep being awesome!

Until next time!

Much love,
Maria