April is National Stress Awareness Month. I appreciate that it comes on the heels of March Madness because the frenzy is real; and, I am not just talking about basketball. It seems like this time of year becomes a little chaotic. It does not matter if I am talking to a client or a friend, we are all experiencing a super busy season. March Madness basketball capitalizes it well. Endless games, having to perform at peak and at the same time trying to just survive the current challenge. If they do not perform and they are not at their peak, then their team is eliminated. It is over. Okay, well that analogy is a little dramatic for us, but…

We all run fast and furious at one time or another. There is no one on this planet that can escape the feeling of stress. Checking in with how you are feeling is important. As an entrepreneur, mom and wife, I make it a point to do a check-in on my stress levels. Here is how I know when I am off balance:
When I gain a couple of pounds and cannot shake it off in a week, even when I am extra careful about my food choices.
When I snap at my family for something minor like not eating the kiwis fast enough and letting them spoil.
When I wake up in the middle of the night and I cannot go back to sleep because I can and welcome sleep at any time night or day.
When I feel extra tired and my body literally starts to hurt.

All of these symptoms for me are stress red flags to stop, exhale and be in the moment. When I am mindful and I concentrate on how I feel, I am able to address one body part at a time and release the stress. Everybody is different but here are some stress relievers that work for me:

Epsom salt or apple cider baths
Massages, facials and any kind of spa treatments
Stretching, long walks or any kind of exercise

Drinking lots of water helps to slow me down and at the same time it helps me feel more energetic.

Do not get me wrong, I do not have it all figured out. Stress is a part of my life. But, I just do not want it to keep me off-balance for a long period of time. During stress awareness month, I just wanted to share some tips on how I stay in-tuned with my body to help me be aware of stress in my life. For you, the symptoms might be different; and, the solutions that help work your stress out might be different too.

The most important point of this conversation is to be aware of the stress; how you are feeling; what you are going through and how you are managing it. It is difficult to escape stress but it is possible to prevent and manage elements of stress before it gets the best of us.

So please stop, exhale and be aware of stress.

Happy National Stress Awareness Month!