• All About Jill
  • Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Ripped Jeans & Bifocals

Adoption, motherhood and midlife

  • Home
  • Christmas
  • Travel
    • Montana Travel
    • Texas
    • East Coast
    • West Coast
    • Midwest
    • Southwest
    • Way Out West
    • Everything Else
    • Disney
    • Cruises
    • Travel Tips
  • Lifestyle
    • Mom Life
    • Adoption
    • Entertainment
    • Cars
    • Recipes
    • Blogging
  • Mom Life & Adoption
    • Mom Life
    • Adoption
    • Listen To Your Mother

How to stay positive during times of stress

September 6, 2020 by Jill 2 Comments

With the vast amount of scheduling and lifestyle changes we’ve all experienced over the last few months, staying positive during times of stress can be challenging. Probably the biggest understatement ever, right? We may be looking for ways to create a peaceful home environment during a very uncertain time. Some of us may be struggling with how to simultaneously take care of ourselves and our families while maintaining a sense of normalcy. There are ways to stay positive during times of stress and while we may not be able to solve any of the world’s problems, we can somewhat control our reaction to the stress and set the tone for a peaceful and calm home.

Disclaimer: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post may also contain affiliate links to other sites where I will be paid a commission by the seller if you make a purchase.

Table of Contents

  • Ways to stay positive during times of stress
  • 1. Look for easy ways to boost health and wellness
    • Try this HIIT cardio workout at home
  • 2. Eat well and hydrate
  • 3. Find solace in simplicity
  • 4. Stay informed but not inundated
  • 5. Start Your Day with Positive News Stories

Ways to stay positive during times of stress

1. Look for easy ways to boost health and wellness

Looking for ways to stay positive during times of stress includes looking for ways to stay healthy in all ways. Schedules and routines were turned upside down by social distancing and some of us haven’t really regained that normalcy. Even though we’re venturing out more (my gym opened back up a couple of months ago, with restrictions) people’s comfort levels are different and I think a lot of us are making backup plans for if things start shutting down again. There are lots of virtual options for fitness classes and things like The Mirror and Peloton have changed home workouts forever.

It doesn’t take an app or a fancy class to incorporate movement into your day, however. If the weather permits, head outdoors and incorporate a fun and challenging HIIT cardio drill workout. Bring the kids along, too!

Try this HIIT cardio workout at home

  • jog or a quick walk around the house or up and down the driveway (2 minutes)
  • lateral shuffle left side (30 seconds)
  • lateral shuffle right side (30 seconds)
  • sprint (30 seconds)
  • optional – 10 burpees. I know a lot of ladies who do HIIT love their burpees but I hate them and don’t do them.
  • repeat three times

If you can’t get outside, head over to YouTube and find a workout. Fitness Blender, Yoga with Adrienne and Cosmic Kids Yoga are all great choices that will keep you moving and boost your mood. And, Cosmic Kids Yoga is not joke. I’ve done it with my kids for PE and it can get fairly intense. 

There’s also nothing like a few rounds of Just Dance – even if you’re not good at it, it gets your body moving. We play on the Nintendo Switch and my dance moves entertain my kids. Five or six songs are about the same level of intensity as an exercise class. Don’t forget to grab the wristbands. 

2. Eat well and hydrate

Kind of goes with “live long and prosper” if you want a Star Trek reference just for fun. But seriously, one of the things I forget to do when things get stressful is to keep up my water intake. And reaching for the junk food? We won’t talk about that, other than to say yeah, it’s happening and no, it isn’t good. But, every day is a new day and we can make better choices.

Staying hydrated hydrated is key for optimal health. Drink your water regularly and encourage your family to do the same. Along the same lines, by combining the proper foods in your meals, you can ensure that you stay full and get the nutrition you need. Often when we eat too many of the wrong things we find ourselves snacking more than we would like. By making sure to include healthy fats, proteins, and carbs in each meal, we can curb the cravings and nourish our bodies properly.

You might also like: 75+ Vegetarian and Vegan Soups

While we all have specific nutritional needs and there is no one-size-fits-all, general food combining usually works for most diets. Of course, adjust as you see fit and always follow doctors’ orders as they relate to your individual needs and preferences. Try to get some good fats in your diet midday and in the late afternoon. Items like avocado, nuts, and eggs are good choices.

3. Find solace in simplicity

The world is a noisy place and we’re constantly bombarded with advertisements, promotions and news stories trying to turn our attention this way and that. Sensory overload can have our thoughts spinning and spiraling out of control. By making an effort to resist the pull of everything vying for our attention, we can learn to reconnect with ourselves and the ones we love. This is the perfect opportunity to put our focus inward and enjoy the simple things we all know matter the most.

Mundane tasks like slicing carrots and potatoes for a comforting vegetable stew can be therapeutic.  Involving the family in the process can be doubly beneficial. When we work together in the kitchen to create a delicious meal, we’re not only nourishing our bodies, but also our relationships with the ones we love most.

Bread baking is another activity we can do with even the youngest of children. Measuring ingredients, getting messy with flour, kneading and punching the dough are all hands-on activities that appeal to a child’s senses. They’ll love watching the dough rise and take shape as well as enjoying the warm, delicious fruits of their labor. These are simple ways to bond, take your mind off of everything and focus on the simple task at hand.

If you feel drawn to it, create something that appeals to you. Whether that means bringing out the watercolors, writing some poetry, nature journaling, cooking or knitting, getting creative allows you to get out of your own head and focus on putting your own brand of beauty out into the world.

4. Stay informed but not inundated

Naturally, during times of uncertainty, we turn to our local news channels and Facebook pages. We scour trending Twitter topics and spend a lot of time typing phrases into Google that we know we shouldn’t be researching. That isn’t just me, right?

It is human nature to want to know everything and stay informed. While this is important, it is equally important to focus on the positive things going on in the world, especially when we’re dealing with stress.

I have approached social media much differently lately. I used to mindlessly scroll while watching TV or while having my coffee in the morning. My newsfeed has been so cluttered with stuff I don’t want to read that I’ve decided to consciously limit my time on social media and I’ve opted to unfollow a chunk of people and leave some groups that aren’t having a positive impact on my well-being right now. Once I made these small changes, I noticed my stress level drop. 

Make a conscious effort to balance out your online time by staying informed about current events but also seeking out the good in the world. There are several sites that report happy news stories. Bookmark these sites so that when you find yourself beginning to spiral toward uncertainty and fear, you have something positive to fall back on.

It’s also important to keep in mind that not everything you see on social media is credible. I’m not going down the “fake news” rabbit hole and you have to decide for yourself what you’re going to count as news. I’ve adopted a “less is more” approach to scrolling and social media and it has helped a lot.

5. Start Your Day with Positive News Stories

If you’re looking for positive news to help you release stress, start your day with a visit to The Happy Newspaper for uplifting and inspiring stories from around the world. Similarly, Positive News, according to their website, offers ‘good journalism about the good things that are happening.’

The waves of emotion that many of us are experiencing can be draining on our body, mind, and soul. By balancing out the nature and ebb and flow of information we allow into our space, we’re better able to think clearly and be proactive when we need to be.

Staying positive during times of stress can be challenging. So much of the weight falls upon our shoulders as mothers and caregivers. We need to be sure to give ourselves grace when we need it. Taking time for ourselves, even if it’s just 5 minutes of meditation before falling exhausted into bed at night, won’t fix the world but it could adjust our mindset and allow us the strength and resilience we so desperately need and deserve.

You might also like: Keep your kids busy with these hands-on activities


2 Comments

« Lunchbox Printables that show your kids you love them
Outside the Lunchbox: Easy School Lunch Ideas & School Snack Ideas »

Comments

  1. Richard Kou says

    April 8, 2020 at 1:44 pm

    Yes! We need to stay positive, except for corona positive.

    Reply
    • Jill says

      April 8, 2020 at 5:59 pm

      We definitely do – well put, Richard!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

All About Jill

I'm a digital content creator and essayist who copes with parenting and most other situations with humor and snark. Just so you know, if this weren't the internet, I'd be smiling awkwardly and answering simple questions like "How are you today" with gems like "I like pockets."

I really do love pockets, though.

I spent 26 years in the USAF, which went by really, really fast. I'm very proud of my service but I'm loving my second act even more. Writing gives me the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and that's what makes me happy. Welcome.

Read More…

Recent Snaps

rippedjeansandbifocals

Freelance Writer & Travel Expert
Producer, Listen to Your Mother SA
💜Mom via birth & adoption
🐈 Human to @remusthebengalcat
🇺🇸 USAF veteran
📍#texas

Jill Robbins
Have you ever driven to and around Walt Disney Wor Have you ever driven to and around Walt Disney World?
.
Despite having many trips to Disney under our belts, driving around Walt Disney World Resort and to and from the parks was something we'd just never done. Our last trip was a little different - we had a second leg of our trip outside of Orlando and needed a car. Our trip luckily coinicided with the opportunity to review the 2021 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD. 
.
The Mazda CX-9 is a roomy midsize crossover with some seriously luxe touches. The second row has roomy captain's chairs which is perfect for our boys and would also work for adults. We didn't use the third row and kept it folded down for extra cargo space but if you need extra seating, you've got it. 
.
This car has a lot of nice features but I have to say the wireless charging pad and the cooling seats were my favorites. It was above 90 on one of our Disney days and it was definitely nice to cool off in the car after a long day having fun in the parks. 
. 
My profile has a full review of the Mazda CX-9 and also some helpful information on driving at Disney World and why you might want to consider it for a future trip. Happy to answer any questions!
. 
#mazda #drivemazda #mazdacx9signature #mazdacx9 #shedrives #disneyworld #disneykids #nowmorethanever #waldisneyworld #waltdisneyworldresort #getyourearson #familyvacation #disneyvacation
Masks at Walt Disney World: a small change effecti Masks at Walt Disney World: a small change effective today: guests may briefly remove their face coverings for outdoor photos while maintaining appropriate social distance. 😷
.
Prior to today (like in this snap of my family at EPCOT last week) face coverings were required unless eating or drinking while stationary. This small change makes me so happy and hopeful. I appreciate all Disney is doing to keep us safe and look forward to our next set of magical photos where you can SEE our smiles.
.
Do you have any questions about visiting Walt Disney World right now?
.
This trip was sponsored by @visitflorida in collaboration with @travelingmom 
.
#disneyworld #disneyfamily #nowmorethanever #lovefl #tmom #travelingmom #epcot #disneycreators #disneymagicmoments
Flying on Easter Sunday is a new one for us. We ar Flying on Easter Sunday is a new one for us. We are together and that’s what matters...there might be a little something chocolaty waiting for us at home this evening.
.
Thanks @travelingmom @visitflorida and their partners for giving us lots of memories this week. We can’t wait to share more pictures, videos and stories about what we did in Florida and to help inspire you to plan your own adventure.
.
#tmom #lovefl #visitflorida #travelingmom #happyeaster #eastersunday #familytime #familytravel #southwestairlines #orlandoflorida
Happy "another year around the sun" to my best fri Happy "another year around the sun" to my best friend and partner in crime. Here's to celebrating doing what we love best. Thanks for never laughing at me when I lose stuff and never calling my crazy ideas crazy, even when they are a little. 

#lovefl #unlocktampabay #tampabay #happybirthday #thisisus #travelingmom #tmom
You can fly, you can fly, you can fly! (ad) We ha You can fly, you can fly, you can fly! (ad)

We have had so much fun at @waltdisneyworld this week and while it is always a little sad to say "See ya real soon" we are excited to be off to our next adventure with @visitflorida today.

I've gotten so many questions about what it's like to visit Walt Disney World Resort right now and I will answer them all - I've taken lots of pictures and taken notes. It is definitely a different time to take your family on vacation but I promise, the magic is still there. 

One thing that hasn't changed is the need to give kids downtime during vacation. Doing a packed day in the parks is super fun but our kids get tired (and TBH, grownups get tired-er) and having that end-of-day splash followed by a late start or quieter day the next day helps keep everyone even and feeling amazing about being on vacation as a family. Balance is always important.

This pool is the Dig Site Pool at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. Ask me anything about staying here and I will answer. 

#tmom #nowmorethanever #coronadospringsresort #coronadosprings #waltdisneyworld #disneykids #disneyfamily #disneypools #lovefl  #disneycreators #doubletrouble #chinaadoption #virtualtwins #twinlife #twinlifeisthebestlife #familytravel
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 Ripped Jeans and Bifocals by Krizzy Designs

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT