stress resilient : creating a mindful toolbox

Hi friends! How are you holding up?

May I be honest with you?

I’ve been struggling.

There’s a lot going on in the world; none of it is under my control a (very difficult concept for this control freak to accept).

Like so many, I worry about COVID (my home state of Arizona has become the hotspot for the US), racial inequality, and my health.

I worry about my family’s health and our community’s survival.

I worry about the safety of all of the people whose skin color affects whether they live or die; I worry about the psychological stress on my friends and family in law enforcement.

in stressful times, our behavior reverts to survival mode.

“Survival mode” is my favorite way to talk about a sympathetic nervous system response, commonly referred to as “fight, flight, or freeze.”

Our brains prioritize survival rather than rest, digest, or relaxation.

In the short term, we can get a lot done with a sympathetic nervous system response! Long term, it can be detrimental to our health and wellbeing.

If you’d like to learn more, I did a fantastic webinar with Angie Miller of AFAA and NASM. She is a master instructor with a multitude of certifications in health and fitness, and a licensed mental health specialist.

Much like developing muscle memory, changing our neural habits takes time.

Angie and I discussed creating a “mindful toolbox” to rely on in times of stress. When we notice that we are stressed, we can simply take a tool out of the toolbox, use it, and notice the shift in our mindset!

each Monday on Instagram, I offer a “mindful minute” from my toolbox.

I encourage you to watch the webinar I did with Angie, and check out Instagram to try additional techniques (pro tip: I save them all in my highlights!). Then, create a list for yourself to pull from when you’re in a stressful situation.

be well + kind to yourself!

Til next time,

xoxo