The ever-eager Elektra helps me manage stress by encouraging me to run. Note the intense stare. She’s saying, “C’mon, put on these running shoes. You know you want to!”
When life spins out of control into what I call “mini-crisis mode,” how do you manage stress at home? I want to share some tips to survive that I’ve been practicing lately as I’ve been slogging through a season of challenges.
I hesitate to give advice because I am so far from having it all together as a homemaker. You probably don’t want to model your routines after my scatterbrained approach. That said, I want Plum Prairie Ranch to be a place where we can encourage each other during tough times. (Here’s more on my “set-to” with housekeeping).
A small sample from our mini-crisis
For the last few weeks, we have been in “mini-crisis mode” due to various health challenges in our family that I won’t get into here. I don’t want my daughters or hubby to complain about my over-sharing.
Here’s one issue I can mention. My running buddy Elektra – who can’t complain about being mentioned on the blog – had a seizure the other night while I was fixing dinner. I had a school board meeting to cover for my day job as an education reporter. I felt a wee bit of satisfaction from starting dinner earlier than usual before my 6:30 pm meeting.
Elektra made a choking noise by the back door while I was browning some Engelland ground beef for tacos. Her whole body convulsed. She struggled to get her back legs under her and couldn’t manage it for a few tense minutes. I phoned the vet and while I was trying to figure out how to best lift my 50-pound German shepherd border collie to carry her to the car, she recovered and got up on her own.
My 22-year-old daughter and I rushed her to the vet, then waited to see the doctor. (Yes, Rebekah, I’m sure I turned off the stove). The dog got a booster shot earlier in the afternoon, so she may have had a reaction or it may have been something else.
I am thankful Elektra recovered so quickly because she was her usual nervous but friendly self with the medical staff. After the vet drew blood for further testing, we took her home. I pulled on a presentable outfit and ran out the door, half an hour late to my meeting and without eating dinner.
Here are my bare minimum basics when I’m in mini-crisis mode
That’s just one example of the issues I’ve been battling this week. When mini-crisis mode attacks my time and energy, I aim to maintain a minimum level of preparedness so extra stress doesn’t overwhelm me.
- Wash dishes. Dirty dishes happen. If I run the dishwasher when it’s mostly full, we won’t run out of spoons for morning cereal.
- Do a load of laundry. This week, I did one load of laundry. And that was an achievement in itself. The girls do their own laundry, but I needed to do at least one load so Shawn and I wouldn’t run out of clean underwear. I will confess I didn’t put all the clean clothes away, and yesterday Shawn didn’t see the clean boxers in the basket at the foot of our bed. Oh well, you can’t win ’em all.
- Get a few groceries. People need to eat. At our house, the basics include milk, cereal, yogurt, fruit, COFFEE and the frozen meals Shawn takes to work for lunch. If all else fails, grab the peanut butter and a tortilla.
- Go to bed early, if possible. Dealing with added stress wears us out. I should go to bed early rather than fall asleep on the couch because I’m exhausted. Then I wake up and can’t get back to sleep in my own bed. It’s a vicious cycle, people.
- Read something uplifting and pray. I’m reading through the Psalms right now on biblegateway.com. The Psalms keep it real. The Psalmist prays through trials and offers prayers of praise and thanksgiving. I’m reminded to pray and be honest with God about my struggles.
- Go for a walk. Even if it’s a five minute walk down to the corner, getting outside and hearing birds sing and seeing flowers in bloom refreshes the body, mind and soul. Because it’s July in Texas, I only go walk very early or very late because being hot and sweaty does not rejuvenate me, for some reason. If I’m feeling more ambitious and I have a bit more time, I’ll go jogging with the doggie. If you can’t get outside, do some stretches or stride around your house for five minutes. Moving your body relieves stress. I can feel it in my shoulders.
De-stress with a dose of nature. Here’s a perfect magnolia blossom I spied in my neighborhood.
Here’s one recommendation I would leave with you: Go read Psalm 27. When I feel like I’m fighting through my days, it reminds me that mini- and not-so-mini crises come to all of us AND it tells me where to go.
“My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” – Psalm 27:8 (NLT)
Is your life full of stress right now? What do you do to combat it? Do you have any advice for others in the battle?