Hello readers, I know it’s been a minute since I’ve been here. 2024 was full of challenges and obstacles and I personally just needed a hiatus to rest and focus on my mental health and faith. I’m excited to hit off the new year and share some of my experiences and knowledge from ‘24.

1-Don’t underestimate the power of self-care in hard times.

Although my family and I really had to push through some difficult times and realizations, I never stopped going from my daily jogs and going to the gym several days a week. There are very many days I did not feel like going or had very little energy. Keeping your body moving is really important to keep your whole self balanced even during the hard times. I also use this time as a time of reflection, prayer and meditation. Whether I go for a run or a walk, it’s time to reflect pray meditate and prioritize what I need to be focused on during this season. Don’t let exhaustion be an excuse to lay around, the days I didn’t feel like doing anything I at least went for a brisk walk.

2-Don’t eat to feel better.

When we’re stressed and going through some of life challenges, it’s easy to want to indulge in sugar and or fatty foods to make us feel better in the moment. After a couple hours, the sugar rush wears off and you feel even worse plus you end up raising your blood sugar and gaining unnecessary pounds that will need to be shed later. This creates another factor of stress that you don’t need to be adding. Instead of going for the cookie jar or the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, opt for a piece of fruit with peanut butter or some nuts and raisins. If food isn’t going to get your mind off of it maybe try some gentle exercise or even just going outside and getting fresh air for a few minutes. You can even try doing another activity, which is refocusing, to get your mind off snacking.

3-Don’t skip meals because you’re stressed or anxious.

This is a big one for me because I tend to not want to eat when I’m stressed out or upset about something, but this will backfire very quickly. As blood sugar begin to drop, you begin to be more and more stressed, upset, and may even make worse choices later on. Even if you don’t feel like eating, make sure to grab a snack that has some protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins in it to keep you from hitting an even further slump.

4-Prioritize sleep

The worst thing you can do if you’re already stressed out is to start losing hours of sleep. While anxiety may make those zzzs hard to catch, there are some simple bedtime things you can do to help relax your mind and body. Try going for a short walk right before bed. Reading some calming literature and prayer, reminding yourself of God‘s promises will always encourage your soul and give rest to your mind and body.

5-Find things to be thankful for.

While it’s hard if you’re going through a trying season to think about the things you’re grateful for, try to. Make a list, no matter how short it is of things that you are thankful for and take time to give thanks to God for the good things in your life. I will say in a hard season this is a challenge, but it’s probably one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself from falling into a place of extreme depression and hopelessness. As you begin to remind yourself of the things that God has done for you it makes the problem you’re facing a little less insurmountable.

6-Let go of what you can’t control

I am a master of trying to control the things I can’t control or even trying to control people, what they say or how they will respond. These are things that we cannot control and the more we try to control them, the more anxiety and stress that creates in our lives. Let go and let God. Focus on the things in your life that you can improve and the things that you can’t, open your hands and let go of. You’ll find how much peace you have when you let go of the circumstances and things and people that you can’t control.

7-Have fun anyway!

It may seem insane to have fun in a time of hardship, but choosing to make fun a priority, even if you only partially enjoy it. It will lift your spirits increase your immune system, and give you more resilience to deal with the harder stuff.

8-Look Foreward.

Staying focused on the past will only make it harder for you to have the resilience you need to move forward. It’s OK to grieve at times, but there needs to be a time that’s set aside for grief, so that you can focus on what you want in life going forward.

9-Pray without ceasing

Don’t lose heart in the moments God is silent. Pray and keep praying. Remind yourself of the promises He has for you and don’t allow yourself to become hopeless. God has you in His hand and loves you. Beautiful days are ahead if you stay the course. 🩷

A sunset bike ride, my daughter and I on a bike ride. Beautiful Florida sunset, an interesting flower 🌺 stopped to smell the roses. 🌹