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Patty Craig: A Slice of Time

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t experience stress of one kind or another. One explanation of stress is: “In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure)” (https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20104). We also know that stress can result from both positive and negative events. Many find ways to deal with stress overload. Learning de-stress techniques can be pretty important to living healthy.

Wondering how family and friends de-stress, I asked, “How do you de-stress? What activities do you typically engage in to help you relax when you feel stressed?” Their responses are listed below.

-I wish there was a true answer! I seem to stay stressed. I would have to say that the pool has helped me tremendously to just stop and relax.

-I crochet or read a book.

-I sleep.

-I practice deep breathing and relaxation with my legs up in the recliner, and I watch television.

-I love to take a bubble bath, or before Covid, I liked to go shopping without the kids.

-Exercise daily, use a stress ball or squeeze ball at work during the day, and bourbon on ice.

-The only thing to do is watch TV. I love TV though.

-I read.

-Getting up early, drinking a cup of coffee, and sitting in my swing on my porch listening to the quiet of the morning.

-It depends on what I’m stressed about. I do different things: bake, clean, yard work. Being busy helps me to think on what I’m doing, not what’s stressing me. I ask God to help me. I try to turn it all over to Him.

-Exercise or watching TV to turn my brain off.

-What we call back-porch sittin’. Spending time in rocking chairs, porch hammocks and swings…just enjoying the family.

-I go to bed and go to sleep.

-I play with my dogs and horse.

-Workout.

-Motorcycle riding, marksmanship, yard and garden work, reading, creative writing and poetry.

-I normally play puzzle games, color, or cook a meal that takes longer to prep than an everyday meal. On days when those things are not enough, I like to fish. When stress gets really bad, it is time for a vacation, and that would include camping and canoeing with the family. I find that gives me the most joy! 

-My favorite way to de-stress is to get a massage; but, since that is expensive, I usually pray, read, or find something to distract my mind.

-The number one activity that helps me forget about stressful situations is hanging out with my fiancé, friends, and family. They take away all the negative.

-Motorcycle riding, on or off road.

-To de-stress, I listen to or read books, binge watch a good series, sit outside and read devotionals, go for a walk/run, have a glass of wine, or take a bubble bath. Sometimes it takes two or three of those activities combined, but they do the trick to remind me of perspective, how much God has blessed me, and that it will all work itself out.

-I tend to become active: cooking, cleaning or working outside. Then I can be still with a cup of tea on the sunporch or the deck. Prayer helps, too.

William James said, “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” Ziggy Marley said, “Doing something that is productive is a great way to alleviate emotional stress…” (https://everydaypower.com/stress-quotes/). Brad Meltzer said, “Remember that you are not a damsel in distress, waiting for some prince to rescue you. Forget that prince. With your brain and your resourcefulness, you can rescue yourself” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/distress-quotes_3). So, we can choose to be productive, finding ways to alleviate the stress we feel – even when we cannot change the situation.

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