| What do moms, grandmas, students, full-time | | | | soothing scents include lavender, sandalwood, or |
| employees, self-employed, singles, married, engaged, | | | | peppermint. |
| and divorced women all have in common? | | | | 3. Soak away that Stress. No hot tub? No problem! Fill |
| Stress! | | | | up that tub with warm water and bubbles and soak |
| Studies show that women are more likely than men to | | | | until your fingers and toes could be mistaken for |
| experience anxiety, depression, and just feel generally | | | | prunes. By the time you unplug the stopper, your |
| stressed-out. This may be due to hormones, genetics, | | | | tension will be draining along with the water. |
| or because women feel they need to be and do | | | | 4. Walk it off. Getting outdoors and filling your lungs |
| everything for everyone. Keeping the house up, | | | | with fresh air does wonders for both your body and |
| arranging the kids' hectic schedules, working, friends, | | | | mind. Pay attention to the sights and sounds you |
| husbands, church...women tend to have a huge | | | | encounter, like birds singing and children playing. |
| collection of hats of which they wear several on any | | | | 5. Aerobic Exercise. There's nothing like a good |
| given day. | | | | old-fashioned workout to release those "runners high" |
| And Christian women certainly aren't exempt. Many | | | | endorphins that will pump out the stress and leave you |
| people think that Christians are supposed to have it all | | | | feeling reenergized. |
| together. Ha! There are days when I feel like I've lost | | | | 6. Talk it out. It's no secret that most women are |
| my mind and burst into tears as I look at my "to-do list" | | | | better at expressing their feelings. And sometimes, |
| that's much longer than the hours in the day. And while | | | | when we're stressed-out and overwhelmed, it helps to |
| God offers me His peace, I don't always think to ask | | | | release that pent-up tension with our words. This |
| Him for it before the stress finds its way in. | | | | doesn't mean we should launch into a complaint or |
| But while stress may be right there, banging on your | | | | whining session, but simply talking through the stressful |
| door, you don't have to invite it in for dinner. When your | | | | moment often relieves the pressure and gives women |
| muscles are tense and your mind is about to explode, | | | | a sense of peace. |
| here are seven things you can do to decompress and | | | | 7. Indulge! Go ahead and grab that candy bar. |
| de-stress: | | | | Chocolate releases "feel-good" chemicals in your brain |
| 1. Pray! You knew this would be number one, right? | | | | that help alleviate stress. But don't overdo it. A couple |
| God is the first person you should go to when you feel | | | | of Hershey's Kisses or one third of that candy bar will |
| the reins of stress beginning to tighten. Ask God for | | | | do. |
| His peace before your tension and frustration blow up | | | | You will have plenty of opportunities in your daily life to |
| all over your husband, your kids or the family dog. | | | | get frazzled and stressed-out. But you don't need to |
| 2. Scented candles. Sneak into your bedroom, lock the | | | | allow stress and anxiety to take control. Recognize |
| door and light a couple of scented candles. Lie on your | | | | the times when you need to step aside and take a |
| bed, breath deeply and meditate on the Word. When | | | | moment to decompress and de-stress. By first asking |
| you exit your room (if you don't fall asleep!), your | | | | God for help, you are one step closer to allowing His |
| senses will be refreshed and de-stressed. Suggested | | | | peace to rule in your heart and in your life. |