action steps | The Warm Milk Journal

Putting stress to rest so that we can get our rest at night.

Published October 27, 2011 | By Debra

Stress is one of the leading causes of losing sleep at night. We aim for a restful night of sleep here at The Warm Milk Journal. It is time to put Stress to rest!

Three main sources of stress:

1. Job

2. Family

3. Health

In your journal this evening (or morning), write down anything that is causing you stress right now. There is a very good chance that it will be one of the three sources listed above: job, family, and health.

Once you pinpoint some areas in your life that are causing you stress, put down your journal and close your eyes and breathe.

Continue to breath, be still, quiet… just be with yourself a while.

Now, open your eyes and your journal and write down anything that comes to mind.

Some questions I ask myself when I do this exercise that are helpful are:

1. Is this something that will really matter tomorrow, next week, next year, or five years from now?

2. What if I were to remind myself of the fact that “this too shall pass”? All things good or bad will pass. This will too in due time.

3. What action steps can I take now to deal with ______ ?

4. When dealing with family issues, what is more important: to be right or to make love be my guiding principle and have peace and harmony in my home?

5. When dealing with something very large, sometimes I just have to ask myself: “Have I done everything I can do?”. If yes, then I truly may just have to focus on my faith and “let go and let God”

Other things that really help with stress?

Take a walk/bike ride/ jog around the block a few times (I have a great music playlist on my Ipod shuffle for this purpose)

Watch a funny movie with loved ones.

Be in the now and appreciate what you have all around you NOW.

In peace,

Debra