Geann manages health and nutrition programs in off the grid locations such as Vanuatu and Iraq. She fills the lull in between assignments by solo backpacking, yoga, painting, and dreaming. Read all her adventures at sky-clad.blogspot.com or follow her on Instagram.
If you feel that you’ve been neglecting yourself recently or feeling stressed or burn-out or you’re feeling unhealthy, this is written for you. This is your wake up call to get up, stand up and take self-care to a whole new different level.
Let’s start your journey towards a healthy lifestyle with a huge emphasis on self-care. Self-care is taking care of our mind, soul, and body every day. It’s not just a single activity. Examples of this are eating nutritious meals, exercising at least thirty minutes three times a day, or making sure you find a quiet time every day, among others.
If you stick to a healthy lifestyle, you will reap a lot of benefits. This includes feeling healthier and more relaxed. Starting a healthy lifestyle is easy, but sustaining it is where the real challenge lies. There are always lots of excuses to skip doing healthy things. This ranges from having no time to wanting to sleep longer or the inclement weather!
If procrastination gets you every time, try these things to get out of the funk:
Do you believe in the saying that money makes the world go round? In our society, money is equated with power and control. Both of these give us an illusion of success and happiness. Money also gives us security and freedom. It buys us comfort.
When you lack money to spend for your wants and sometimes even your needs, the experience can be scary. It can be a constant source of stress if you do not know how to come to terms with your situation.
Can one actually live a happy and meaningful life without it? Yes, I do believe so. I am lucky to have had the first-hand experience of living in desperate conditions after disasters. Whether it may be surviving the storm surge that went with Super Typhoon Haiyan, or working with the people of Vanuatu a day after Cyclone Pam hit them and took away their crops, or providing the needs of villagers escaping ISIS jihadis in Mosul; I’ve seen how resilient the human spirit is. These are situations when the affected populations live in an almost non-monetary economy. They either lost everything or they have money but have no use for it. Their ability to bounce back, survive and even laugh off their situation by barter system or just relying on other people’s kindness.
In a study called Resilience in Survivors of Katrina (“RISK”) Project, the researchers, by a stroke of chance were able to measure the pre-and post-disaster levels of happiness among 491 female participants. They were asked, “If you were to consider your life, in general, these days, how happy or unhappy would you say you are?” According to lead researcher Rocio Calvo, an assistant professor at Boston College’s School of Social Work, almost 89% of women remained in the “somewhat happy” or “very happy” categories a year after the disaster. Don’t you find that interesting? What could be the secret to happiness when one has nothing?
Happiness is an intentional internal feeling that is an effect of chemical reactions in our body. Isn’t it wonderful to know that we can manipulate and control our emotions through different exercises and activities? I’ve jotted down some tips on how to be happy without a budget for you below because the best things in life are free!
The man was not created to be alone. It is natural for us to long for a partner to form a meaningful relationship with. However, since these are two people with different genetic markers, family background, culture, and a lot more, conflicts are sure to crop up time and time again! Definitely, this is not part of our #relationshipgoals!
When we are stressed, our body activates its fight or flight response as an act of self-preservation. We react by either getting aggressive or running away and building walls around our ego to protect ourselves. How do you react when you are under stress? Do you know what your attachment style is? How about your partner?
The problem with stress in relationships is it can be deep-seated. What stresses us now could be the tip of the iceberg. This sustained psychological stress is linked to depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. We sure do want to suffer from these lifestyle diseases!
Stress can also slowly eat up the foundation in your relationship. If you do not know how to use stress to your advantage, it may break down something which was once beautiful. Think about all the investment and sacrifices you have put into your relationship! Surely, you want to do everything in your power to keep things together!
I know that your heart is weary and your spirit is weak right now, but running away from our troubles is not a mature way of addressing our problems. We need to stay and work things out. This is the only way we can prove that we value our partner above all else. If you feel alone and on the verge of giving up, it is good to remind yourself that you are not alone in these challenging times. There are actually two people involved: you and your partner.
How invested you are in the relationship will be tested through your dedication to finding a sweet spot for both of you. Restoring harmony in a relationship is a bit challenging, but the process is full of self-discovery. It is an optimal growth period for both of you. Now, face your stressors head-on and find solutions. Here are 10 ways to deal with stress in your relationship and improve your love for each other.
