How the heck are you doing? Has life thrown you for a loop these past 4 months? Life has forced us all to make sudden, huge changes – whether we wanted to or not. It can be easy to just “keep on keeping on,” but the truth is that this has been a traumatic time for us all, no matter which lens you view it through.
We all respond to trauma differently, with varying levels of stress. Stress is a funny thing, and presents itself in so many ways:
- Feeling frozen
- Body aches and pains
- Digestion issues
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Eating too much or too little
- Withdrawing
- Keeping busy all the time to stop from thinking
- Mood changes
Do you recognize any of these signs of stress in yourself? Personally, I have become much more aware of when and how my body responds to stress.
I have learned so much about myself this past year, because my family and I have experienced four shocking and traumatic situations. Looking back over the near-50 years that I have been alive, I think this has been the most challenging year for me ever.
And yet I am still here, still learning, (and healing,) and striving to share what I learn with you.
Do You Have Tools to Cope?
I know you have been experiencing the changes forced upon us all by the pandemic. I also know that there is a darned good chance that you have had other stresses show up in your life recently. How are you handling those stresses? Do you have ways to bring balance back into your life while you are hurting?
Like I said in last week’s blog, Stop Waiting to Live Your Life, I am not trained or qualified to counsel anyone in ways to cope with stress. But I can tell you that the one thing that never fails to help me is EXERCISE!
I know, what a shock, the Pilates teacher and personal trainer is telling you to exercise. I swear, though – it’s not just me!
Just this Tuesday, I had a great conversation with a couple of my clients about this very topic. One said that she had never really experienced anxiety until Covid-19 struck and everything closed down. She started meditating to help, something that she had never done before. Then she got back into a routine of exercising.
My other client said the same, that exercise was one of the best things she does to relieve stress. She and her husband adjusted to their situation, and began a consistent workout routine at home. Plus she joined me online for Pilates classes several times a week.
We all agreed that having a routine to our day is helpful when life is stressful, especially when it includes exercise.
It is a Great Time to Start Exercising
Right now just might be the perfect time to start building a wellness routine that includes exercise. Think I’m crazy?
- The weather is nicer, so it is easier to get outside
- There is a slower pace of life in summer, so fitting in a workout is manageable
- If your summer plans have been postponed, why not use the time to work out?
Self-care is so important during times of stress, and exercise is one of the best forms of self-care there is. It releases endorphins, relaxes the body, and clears the mind.
If you are looking for guidance, I am always here for you. Let’s talk about how to welcome fitness back into your life.