7 Things You Should Get to Manage Stress

Since we had plans for a six-week road trip to Alaska that would take up half our summer, we squeezed a full summer’s worth of activities into the remaining six weeks.

Family gatherings on the other side of the mountains. Two week-long campouts with friends. Overnight guests. A week of Grandson’s Camp followed by a week of Granddaughter’s Camp. Doctor’s appointments. A family reunion campout. A fishing weekend with Dan and Friends.

We enjoyed the time spent with each and every person—it was all fun—but the busyness held its share of stress.

Most of us understand that managing the tension in our lives is critical for our overall physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual health.

With that in mind, here are 7 things you should ‘get’ to help manage the pressures of life:

1. Get outdoors.

Spending time in nature lowers stress levels:

“There’s something about being in a natural setting that shows clear evidence of stress reduction, including physiological evidence – like lower heart rate.” – Judith Heerwagon, psychologist

2. Get your sleep, your veggies, and your exercise.

Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night. It helps to ban electronic devices from your bedroom—phones, TVs, computers. You might not want to eat a large meal or drink caffeine too late in the evening. And getting some exercise earlier in the day is helpful.

Add more veggies, fruits, whole grains, and legumes to your diet. The thought is that as you incorporate and fill up on healthful foods, it can start crowding out the desire for the unhealthful processed foods and snacks.

Integrate more physical activity into your lifestyle.

“Even a 20-minute walk each day can help increase your energy level, reduce your stress, and help alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety.” – Heather Valladarez

3. Get plugged into community.

Social interactions lift our spirits and remind us that we’re not alone in carrying our burdens.

4. Get inspired. 

Lose yourself in a stirring book, podcast, or movie. I enjoy true life David-and-Goliath stories. One of my favorites is Miracle, starring Kurt Russell as the coach who put together a ragtag team of college hockey players and beat the indomitable USSR hockey team at the 1980 Olympics.

5. Get busy living in the present. 

Practice paying attention to all the good that is going on in the moment. When our focus is removed from our loss and stress—even for just a few minutes—we see how much good remains.

6. Get a gratitude list started.

My niece gifted me with a purse-sized travel book a few years ago, and I began filling my first gratitude journal with one thousand things I was grateful for. Since that time, I’ve filled three journals and just started a fourth. Speaking and writing words of gratefulness is powerful stuff.

7. Get a dog (or dog-sit for a friend). 

During my widow years, I rented a cute little guest house. When the owners in the main house were out of town, I got to care for their golden lab. In return for feeding her, she let me scratch her ears and rub her belly. There’s something ridiculously stress-reducing about ruffling a dog’s fur as he/she looks deep into your eyes with unwavering love.

Does the Word of God have anything to say about managing the everyday stress that’s part of being human?

I can think of a couple verses:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6

It’s easy to say to someone, “Don’t worry. Don’t stress.”

But how do we not worry and not be anxious?

I think the answer is as simple as this: by choosing not to worry or be anxious.

By choosing to get outdoors and gather people around us.

By choosing to pray, and give thanks, and talk to God about our heavy loads that produce stress.

Because—like any good parent—the Father loves when we come to him with our failures and stresses, our hopes and dreams. He loves the camaraderie, the time spent alone together.

It’s that simple.