I recently asked you to share how you’re coping, and you all delivered with awesome tips for reducing stress! Here are just a few… I hope there’s something in here that helps inspire you to do something that helps you feel a little calmer and more grounded in these nutty times.
Also, be sure to come listen to the How to Be a Better Person podcast, where I’m focusing on the many tools we have at our disposal to build our stamina so that we can keep going and stay strong during tough times. (Today I’m talking with Shannon Polson, author of the soon-to-be-released book The Grit Factor and one of the first women to be trained to fly Apache helicopters for the Army—talk about inspiring!)
Your Tips for Reducing Stress
Each morning I check my work email to make sure nothing blew up over night (so I can not worry about that), then go for a 30-minute walk through my neighborhood. I leave my phone behind (otherwise, I’m constantly stopping to reply to texts) and just take note of the flowers and air and buildings. It helps me remember that there’s more to life than Zoom meetings. – Cena
Getting us all outside for something—a bike ride, a walk, a paddle board—is a healer and relieves sibling stresses (and parental stresses, too!). Hot chocolate also helps! – Merrill
The single best thing I have done for my mental health and stress is starting a daily breathing exercise called 4, 7, 8 breathing. You inhale through your nose for a count of 4, hold for a count of 7, release through the mouth for a count of 8. Pretending to blow through a straw on the exhale helped me when I first started. I do this when I wake up and when I go to bed, as well as any time I’m feeling super anxious or stressed or in physical pain. The anxiety and pain always disappear after the exercise. – Hailey
I have been taking walks in the evenings to see the sunset, sometimes with friends or family, and sometimes on my own. Photographing the sunsets and sharing the photos with my family and friends helps me to feel more connected, and makes taking photos more meaningful and fun. When I return home, I am more relaxed and feel thankful for the beautiful gift that I gave to myself. – Tiana
Do you have something you’ve been doing that’s been helping you? I’d love to hear about it! Just reply to this email (or record a voice memo and attach it to your reply email) and I’ll share your tip either in a future newsletter or on a podcast episode!
A Great Opportunity to Save Money on CBD
Speaking of reducing stress and staying strong, it really helps to have something in your tool kit that eases physical and mental tension. That’s why I’m excited to have Therapist Preferred as a podcast sponsor! Therapist Preferred is a growing company that produces a line of CBD products made with hemp that’s organically grown in the U.S. Whether you use their sports cream for aches and pains, soft gels with melatonin for sleep, gummies for general anxiety and stress relief, or give the treats to your dog for their anxiety, Therapist Preferred helps you weather the storms.
I heard from Robin, a podcast listener who tried the sports cream for lingering knee pain from an injury 5 months ago. She said:
I have tried several topical pain relief creams but none of them made much of a difference. After using the Therapist Preferred Premium sports cream twice a day I felt a difference almost immediately. My knee feels less stiff and the localized pain has lessened. The cream absorbs quickly and a little goes a long way. I love this product!
To try it for yourself, visit therapistpreferred.com and use the coupon code ‘katehanley,’ all one word, to save 20 percent! They also have a 30-day money back guarantee. Go get yourself some support.
