Stress is the Trash of Modern Life

Danzae Pace ~ Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life ~

I don’t know about the rest of you, but for the past month or so almost every person I have run into has had the same pained look on his/her face. Is it the time of year? The rapidly approaching: weddings, showers, communions, graduations, recitals, elections, tradeshows, launches, travel, kid’s plays, baseball games, soccer games, lacrosse games, softball games, fun fairs, goodbyes, hellos, and whew, I’m tired from just typing the list.  A few weeks ago for me it was really bad. I had over-committed myself (as usual), my husband was away, and I was cranky. I was doing too many things and none of them well and I was snapping at anyone who came near me.

It took me awhile to realize what was wrong. I hadn’t exercised.

I’m not a fitness fanatic. I don’t run (unless chased) and more than 10 burpees make me dizzy and I think the word mountain climbers are two of the worst words in the English language, but I love to exercise. Many of you know that I am a Zumba fan, but I also enjoy my muscle conditioning and Boston Body Barre classes that I take at Dance it Up.  When my children were babies, I would load them into the stroller and head to Hopkington State Park or the Natick Mall to exercise with Stroller Strides anything to get me out  and moving. Frankly, it doesn’t matter. I’ll scream while I do burpees, push myself to do another push up or hold my plank a little longer because not only does exercise help my body, but it also helps my mind. When I exercise, it is one of the few times that I do something for myself and I don’t feel guilty. All my deadlines, pressures and stress goes away and I’m ready to go back and face my to-do list.

I have many friends who run to relax, or do yoga, or write, draw, paint or cook. I’m curious on what you do to relax? When the pressure of the outside world closes in, what’s your go to method to unwind?  Tell me in the comments below.