This year, the day after the U.S. elections, is National Stress Awareness Day.
Given votes are still being counted (as of 2pm Eastern Time) for the U.S. elections, I can’t imagine a better day to take time out to be aware of the stress in our lives, how it affects us, and what we can do to cope with stress.
Speaking for myself, I find that gardening, bicycling, reading, and sleeping helps to reduce stress in my life.
Which is why I’m sharing a picture of flowers blooming in my garden today.
Not an interesting photo, you’ve likely seen lots of photos of pretty flowers.
What makes these blooming flowers stand out?
The timing.
Almost all flowers in our area stopped blooming due to the cold and change in season.
The first week of November in southeast Michigan is usually cold.
Leaves have fallen from the trees. Gray, overcast days are more common than sunny days.
Three days ago, we had snow showers and temperatures in the mid-twenties (Farenheit) with wind chills in the teens.
Brrr.
That bright orange color in my garden, along with this week’s warm temperatures and bright sunshine, helps me cope with what’s happening in my life.
The flowers take my mind off elections, website troubleshooting, and other problems.
Managing and Reducing Stress
We can’t control our circumstances, what the election results will be, or how our business transactions turn out.
But we can manage how we respond to them.
Like many Americans, I needed time off this week. I stopped work yesterday afternoon and took today off.
On election night, I didn’t watch or read the news. I avoided Twitter after 8pm.
Instead, I spent time on other activities: reading, being outside, and home projects.
I read several articles that provided practical advice and actionable tips on stress management, which I thought my followers might enjoy as well.
- How to manage and reduce stress
- How to Stop Stress Getting in the Way of Business Growth
- Stress Management HelpGuide
- Here’s how parents can help kids overwhelmed by 2020 cope and grow
Summary
Whether you’re waiting on election results, business calls, or dealing with a personal crisis, I hope the resources I shared help you better recognize, manage, and reduce stress in your life.
And perhaps, a photo of bright orange flowers provides a moment of reduced stress for you.
