School Days
It is that time. Back to school time. No matter who you are, you are probably somehow affected by it. The time each year when we say goodbye to summer and hello to schedules. Even if you do not have children to get ready for school, or grandchildren to pick up after school; you have probably noticed the back-to-school sales and changes in traffic patterns. You may even be a young or not so young adult whose journey has led you to enroll in trade school or away to a university. Everyone seems to be anticipating how these changes will affect them and those they love.
Schedules.
Money.
Decisions.
Change causes stress. Whether you are starting K-4 or are a senior citizen taking a “life expanding course”, any change in your schedule can cause both good and bad stress. How you prepare and handle stress will show up in your overall mental, emotional, and physical health.
Let’s look at some practical ways we can prepare ourselves and those we love during any schedule or life change.
- Get adequate rest/sleep. Start and stick to your “sleep/wake schedule” – make sure you go to bed and get up the same time every day. It is also important to make sure that your bedroom is designed to promote and maintain sleep.
- Nutrition. Eating a well-balanced diet is so very important for our bodies to function optimally, both mentally and physically. Adding a good multi-vitamin and supplement can also be beneficial.
- Hydration. Water is the best form of hydration. It is recommended you drink an ounce of water a day for every pound you weigh. Few of us drink enough. Caffeinated beverages may give you a temporary boost, however they are not what your body truly needs to run efficiently.
- Schedule time for yourself. Even if it is just a 20 min break, making time for yourself EVERY DAY by scheduling down-time, me-time, fun-time, personal-time is very important.
- Breathe. Seriously, I mean it. Take some deep breaths. It is amazing what a few deep breaths can do.
- Give Yourself Grace. We are quick to give those we love a pass, but we are most often hardest on ourselves. You got this. It may be a hard season, but it is a season.
Finally, I want to say a warm and fond “back to school” farewell to one of our own. Hannah, wrote a beautiful blog a few months back and has had the job of editing most of my blogs. She starts Nursing School next week, and has brought much laughter, joy, and a spark of youth to our practice. She will be greatly missed. I cannot wait to see how God uses her. Dream big girl and remember, you have got everything you need to succeed!
Lynn