It’s Been A Year of Things: Five Ways I’m Dealing With Stress in 2024

Hello beautiful people and, welcome back to the blog.  I’m so glad you stopped by.

Hello friends, and how are you? It feels like it’s been so long since I’ve said hello and checked in. I hope everyone is doing well, getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, and taking some time to focus on your mental health.

Friends, it’s been quite a year for me, and dealing with stress and grief have been common themes in my life for 2o24.  However, I continue to maintain this with grace and a little faith.

What’s Happened So Far

Let’s break it down.  The beginning of the year was stressful because, at this point, my Dad’s health was declining, and by this point, my Mom hadn’t walked in almost a year.

My Dad passed at the end of May, I went to a family celebration in June, and a month later, a close cousin of mine passed away. We attended that funeral in June. Because his passing came without warning, it knocked me off my axis.  I finished my vein procedures in July, which removed one protruding vein and redirected the blood of my entire right leg.

As my retirement looms, I’ve been working on my portfolio, which has given me anxiety about whether  (or not) I want to work beyond retirement. (I’m not that old, ya’ll…LOL) Folks, this is a wake-up call because even though you might not be thinking about it now.  It is SO IMPORTANT that you think about saving for the type of lifesstyle you want (once you stop working), and now to sustain it. I want to be able to buy some property, travel, and do some contract work on a limited basis, so I’m putting things in place now, which will cause less stress later.

I also haven’t decided about my Dad’s house and living in the city, and I feel like I’m constantly weighing the pros and cons of my future decisions. These are all factors that contribute to and continue to add to my stress. Stress affects eating, sleep, mood, blood sugar, and overall sense of peace. With all that said, I’ve tried to grab moments this year when I can.

I always have some tool in my “mental health kit” to help me decompress and focus on other things that, combined, are a beautiful intermission from the haily drone of life.

The Five Ways I’m Dealing With Stress as 2024 Comes to a Close

1. Reading is Fundamental Reading is an activity we should always do more of. Books are a lovely intermission. They can be a way to silence the world of chaos (just) for a bit. My brain can escape and take me wherever I want to go. (For me) It’s mainly why I read horror fiction or thrillers—it’s my respite.

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2. Love Thyself Self-care is essential for mental health and can be anything you do for yourself. There’s no limit on what this can look like, and it should reflect you. It could be your yearly breast exam or physical, daily yoga, a weekly face mask, making a special meal, or rearranging and updating your space.

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3. Retail Therapy Yes…retail therapy is a thing, especially if you never treat yourself.  Buying something for my home, a one-of-a-kind thrifted find, a new lip gloss, or some art always brightens my mood because the little things add up to a whole.

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4. My Queens Sometimes, it’s hard to be with people when all you want to do is curl up in a ball and escape the world (trust me, I’ve been there), but when I get invited out, or I initiate the event, it’s good to get out, see your homies and get some positive vibes.  I’m not looking for advice from my friends, but if I can unburden myself, have a good meal, and reminisce, it means everything.  So don’t say “I can’t” when your friends ask you out.  Go …you’ll be glad you did.

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5. Write It Out I’m a huge cheerleader when it comes to keeping a journal.  I have an online journal, a food journal, and one for Bible study.  It feels so good to get it out on paper, unfiltered, with no correction; get that (shit) out.  That brain dump means more than you know; this way, it’s partly purged from your system.

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These actions I’ve listed are simple, and nothing beats therapy; however, we are talking about catching small moments that bring you joy.  I don’t need to do these things daily (except journaling or reading), but once or twice a month, I can brighten my mood with one of these small gestures.  The stress is not gone but becomes easier to manage over time because of a few coping mechanisms to help.  After a stressful day (nothing beats), a large glass of wine, a hot shower, and a good night’s sleep can improve my overall outlook.

Friends and family, thank you so much for spending some time with me today.  I know everyone is feeling some stress, whether it’s work, going back to school, financial or life changes.  Remember to breathe, close your eyes, think of one word to anchor yourself, and breathe again. — Peace