This year has definitely had its ups and downs. I mean, it’s 2020 after all, so some “downs” are to be expected. One of the big “ups” of the year for me, though, has been the growth of my business. I have been THRIVING in my biz, but the stress levels have certainly gone up over the past 8 months or so. So here’s what’s working for me when it comes to managing stress.

Get Up & Get Out

It’s so easy to just sit at our computers all day, working along for hours at a time. Science tells us that exercise is a great way to lower stress hormones and improve sleep. I’m not suggesting it’s a cure-all, but I do know from personal experience that getting up and walking around between client calls or after a long blogging block can be so restorative. It also gives your brain a break!

Bring Nature In

I was recently chatting with an interior designer about bringing nature indoors. She makes sure that there’s a little bit of that organic feel to every space she designs. That includes house plants. Now, if you were to visit my office, you would NOT see any plants inside, but you would see that my desk is positioned right in front of my window, where I can see the tree in my backyard and the blue sky just beyond. I also have tons of crystals on my desk. I personally love to light candles to bring that element of fire into the room. Now, if I could just find a cool fountain for my office…

Support Yourself with Scents

Speaking of candles, some of my favorite scents to burn – or oils to diffuse – in my office are lavender, rosemary, and fresh fruits like apple or peach. Some other scents that promote release include:

• Rose

• Vetiver

• Bergamot

• Frankincense (I love Frankincense resin!)

• Sandalwood

• Ylang ylang

• Geranium

Just be careful if you have kids or familiars about. Essential oils can be quite dangerous to cats in particular!

Set Boundaries

Ugh, this is the one that I’m having to learn, and relearn again! Boundaries are sacred. When you say a kind “No” when you want to, the actions support your overall wellness and help keep your stress levels down. Figure out when your work hours are during the week and stick to them! Remove unnecessary notifications from your phone and (gasp!) leave it in the other room when you’re off-hours.

Use A To-Do List

Stop trying to hold onto all the info in your brain. Seriously, it’s time to release that extra weight and just write it down. I recently moved to an At-A-Glance planner that shows my day laid out from 8:00 to 5:00 and then a small little section at the bottom for priorities. I use that small section for my daily to-do list. And if I run out of room, then that to-do gets moved to the next day. I certainly have tasks that I tackle each day, but if I can’t get to everything I “need” to, I remind myself that one of the reasons I went into business was to make the rules about MY business. As the CEO of my biz, I get to make (and break) the rules!

Create A YouTube Favorites List

This sounds so goofy, but create a Favorites list on YouTube that you can visit any time you need to take a load off. Laughter can relieve the stress response and can help relax those muscles in your head, jaw, and neck that can get tense when you’re going a little bonkers. My Favorites list includes funny illustrated clips from one of my favorite podcasts, “My Brother, My Brother, and Me,” Animal Crossing videos, and “Schitt’s Creek.”

Remember why you started your business…why you do what you do. Coming back to that truth can sometimes be the best way to reduce your stress.

Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional if you find that your stress levels are just too unmanageable!