16 Healing Practices for Stressful Times

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This fall has been one of transition. I have a new office, my kids are back to school and my oldest has gone off to college for the first time (Go Huskies!).

As usual, I have been monitoring how I feel during this time and noting what feels good and what doesn't feel so good so I can figure out the most nourishing ways to support myself.

I compiled a list of some of the things that make me feel good and help me stay grounded and centered even during a time of change and not knowing exactly what is going to come next.

  • Journaling: I do this every day. It's the first thing I do with a cup of coffee, before checking any email or social media. It helps me make sense of what is happening and get clear on what I want. I've been doing this for decades because I look forward to it.

  • Feeling: When I felt sad about the college transition, I sat with it and I felt sad. I let it flow through. I gave myself some space.

  • Music: When in doubt, throw on a new playlist! Some of my favorites this summer have been; Maggie Rogers, Juke Ross, Sleeping at Last and Jukebox the Ghost. I make playlists that make me want to move and playlists to calm and soothe when I am feeling anxious.

  • Sound healing: Youtube has tons of sound healing options. Our bodies are made out of energy and they respond to sound. (That's why we love music so much.) I listen to this and this when I can't fall asleep or I wake up in the middle of the night.

  • Walking outside, getting sun on my face or even just standing in the grass if I'm too tired for a walk. "Grounding" is literally something our bodies do when they are in contact with the ground. (Mom, that's why you always love being barefoot!) Whether it helps or not, it sure can't hurt.

  • Laughter: We've been watching The Good Place on Netflix. So funny. Also, we enjoy being "that" parent and embarrassing our teenagers. It's highly entertaining.

  • Food: I've been loving the start of cold weather foods from chili to broccoli soup. I also love a bowl of Hood's Green Monster Mint ice cream while watching tv at night. Yum.

  • Movement: Walking has been a favorite this fall and energy medicine yoga which combines the principles of energy medicine with a yoga routine. I love killing two birds with one stone. (Wait, what? Why is that even a saying?)

  • Sleep: I love 20-minute naps!

  • New classes: I find nothing breaks me out of a funk like a new class, I guess I'm just an academic at heart. So I'm diving into several self-study classes this fall like the Coaches Rising class on The Neuroscience of Change. Fascinating!

  • Support: I get my own coaching, mentoring and supervision often. We all have our blind spots and places we'd like to be stronger.

  • Connection to others: I try to have a coffee date or phone call at least once a week with a friend, or new colleague or someone I want to get to know better.

  • Breathing! It seems so simple, but it's so incredible what breathing does for our bodies. Focused and deliberate deep breathing. There is also the breath of fire, nostril breathing and simply putting your hand on your heart for 10 deep belly breaths. I'd like to make this a more regular part of my day but when I am feeling tense - it's my go to. You can do it anywhere.

  • Heartmath: - this is a combination of breathing and centering techniques with a focus on gratitude and channeling the feeling of love and sending it out into the world. It has science and evidence to back up its benefits and is a great tool for decreasing anxiety.

  • Connection to something bigger than me: In addition to learning about energy medicine and using meditation and deep breathing, I love to notice and be grateful for all the ways I am guided and supported in this life. This book is one of my favorites on that topic.

  • Pet snuggles: And when all else fails, lying on the floor and spooning with our Bernese Mountain Dog, Sammie, never fails to comfort.

So those are all my secrets! Relying on these tools has helped me stay present and enabled me to take care of myself during what is typically a stressful time.

This also keeps me from turning to dieting to feel a sense of control or focusing on my body as a problem when feeling stressed. There is no right or wrong way to take care of ourselves especially if we are coming from a place of loving care and curiosity.

What tools do you rely on in stressful times?


Note to Health Coaches

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Note to Health Coaches

I have a request for health coaches. I think it's a fair and simple request.

When you post the before and after pictures of the clients who have used your diet product or service, could you make the small print at the bottom of your post a little bigger to read?

I'm getting older and my eyes aren't what they are used to be. So it's kind of hard to see that the average weight loss of those who use your product is only X and that people using your product are only tracked for 12 weeks while using your product.

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6 Things to Consider if You Want to Lose Weight

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6 Things to Consider if You Want to Lose Weight

There are many people in the world who want to lose weight. Before stepping on that path for the first time or the 30th time, here are a few things to consider.

First, what is your goal and why?

For example, in my 30's I had a goal weight in mind. It was a weight I had achieved for a few years between college and marriage when I was living on my own, working and had very few responsibilities. Fast forward to age 36 and 3 babies later and I was still trying to weigh that. And because I didn't weigh that - I automatically judged my body as being unacceptable without actually considering how it felt to be in my body or how my body functioned. So what is your goal? When did you set that as the goal? Who and what influenced your decision? Why do you think it's something you need to do?

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