3 Things I’m Doing to Reduce Stress

Yesterday, I got caught in a major traffic jam. There was construction, and a drive that should have taken about 50 minutes (stressful enough) ended up taking 90 minutes (major stress). I came home with a brain screaming, “Food! For heaven’s sake, get me food.”

Clearly, stress is not good for my program. For me to succeed In my food recovery, I have to reduce my stress wherever possible.

So here’s my plan the next time I get stuck in a raging traffic jam. This comes from research — not mine, but scientists. I’m adapting their suggestions to my traffic stress:

1) Be Grateful.

Heaps of studies show that a lack of gratitude contributes to stress and depression. And, conversely, people with more gratitude experience lower levels of stress.

Whenever I’m stuck in traffic and my stress rises, I will challenge myself to think of three things I’m grateful for at this moment. The blue sky, enough gas in the tank, a safe car, whatever. Maybe I’ll try to think up ten. Or twenty. There are always things to be grateful for.

2) Change Your Thoughts.

Our brains can only focus on one thing at a time. You can refocus your thoughts onto those with less stress.

So, I will challenge myself to think of three ways this stressful situation is actually a good situation to have: It lets me catch up on more of an audiobook, it lets me practice being kind to fellow drivers, it lets me learn how to handle stressful traffic better!

3) Learn to Relax.

It’s a cliche, but doing something relaxing is proven to reduce stress. Fresh air and breathing are big ones for me.

So, I will challenge myself to open a window and let fresh air in. I will breathe it in.

I will practice my 7-11 breathing (breathe in on a count of 7, breathe out on a count of 11).

These three things — gratitude, changed thinking patterns, and relaxation techniques — have been proven by science. If scientists say they work, that’s reason enough for me to try them.

Disclaimer: This site is not officially affiliated with Bright Line Eating or Susan Peirce Thompson. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.