Taking Care of Your Emotional Health

In 2008, stress became the number one cause of deaths in the United States. Actually it wasn’t but it does cause a massive increase in that stubborn belly fat. Which brings me to my question. With the overwhelming amount of stress in our lives today, what are you doing to relax?

Stress is commonplace and over abundant with many Americans. Busy schedules, feeling the strain of the disastrous economic financial crunch, less time with family and friends and working nonstop is taking its toll on us all. Most of us desire to be productive individuals. And with the job market the way it is, we are willing to spend additional time committing to work related projects. We desperately watch every penny that comes in and try to save what little we can while scraping by. Fluctuating grocery prices, rising medical costs, steep childcare expenses and even with the volatile rise and decline of gas prices, it is enough to drive us all crazy. And realistically it makes us lose hope. So what can we do to alleviate some of the stress?

Consider spending some time with yourself for starters. Do some of those things that you enjoy. Health professionals recommend meditation, yoga, massage, and exercise to help cope with stress. Couples plan dates together. Enjoy a night out away from the children with your spouse. Rekindle that flame and delight in each other’s company. Experiencing the arts is also a great way to relieve stress. Creative expression brings a positive spin into a stagnant routine. Play your favorite instrument or perhaps spend time learning one. Go hear your favorite band performing at a local venue. Paint a masterpiece. Read a new novel or an old classic or write your own form of verse. If the price of gas isn’t too cost prohibitive go for a cruise. Put the top down on the convertible and take the family for a scenic drive. Fire up your motorcycle and enjoy the freedom of the open road. Go sailing on your boat. Fish or camp with your family and friends. Deepen your spiritual growth. Volunteer to help others. Creative your own adventure and plan time to enjoy life.

Individuals that practice effective stress management show signs of fewer physical symptoms, such as headaches and back pain. They lower blood pressure. Fewer emotional responses, such as anxiety, anger and frustration are attributed to gaining a personal peace. More energy, improved concentration, greater ability to handle problems and more efficiency in daily activities are also byproducts of controlling tensions. And if you are feeling better about yourself, you tend to exude a confidence that strengthens your relationships with others.

Don’t let stress get you down. You don’t have to spend money necessarily to relieve stress. But it is important to make sure that your own health is a concern and controlling stress benefits you greatly.

Dinner Time With the Family

Time spent with the family as a whole is a rare and fleeting idea. I hear stories often about families that have dinner separately, in their own rooms or in front of the television separate from each other. When do they talk, find out what’s going on in each others lives, and just get to know each other, especially as the children are growing and changing daily?

One tradition my mother has kept is having a family dinner once a week with everyone. My younger brother comes with his fiancé, my little sister, my grandmothers, grandfathers, dad, and my husband and our children. We have four generations that gather together and break bread. It is such a wonderful way for us to take time out of our busy schedules, slow down, and enjoy precious time that we will never get back. I enjoy hearing the stories my grandma tells when my daughter asks her questions about growing up. I love listening to my brother’s expertise on wine, or what his feelings are on the latest movie to come out. My sister is in college, so hearing her frustrations about classes and tests warms my heart and makes me wish I was back at school again, taking better advantage of it this time than I did the last time. My dad always has a funny anecdote or story to tell, and if we are really lucky, he has been practicing on a card trick to share with us. And then there is my mom. She always makes the meal, and tries to cater to everyone’s likes and dislikes, humoring the vegetarians and the meat eaters, so we all will go away filled. She refuses to serve us on paper plates, although it would make her evening so much easier. She always wants to make it feel special by having us eat on glass plates or the china. There are always candles lit and soft music playing on the radio to give a warm atmosphere, a feeling of home and love. I cherish these weekly meals, this time around the dining room table eating, laughing and bonding together. I believe these will be wonderful memories for my children, having dinner with not only their grandparents, but their great-grandparents also. Not every child is so lucky, and not every parent is so lucky as to see this sweet exchange.

Family dinner used to be a given, not even a slight thought leaned in the direction of eating apart. But now, many families consider themselves lucky if they can have one sit down meal together a month because everyone’s schedule is so crazy and seems to take precedence over family time. I’m lucky because my husband and I made the conscience decision to have family meals with our children nightly, no matter what, and they don’t know any different. And then once a week we are blessed enough to have a generational meal, a meal shared with loved ones, and time we can never get back.