Do you look back at the end of each year and wonder, in astonishment, at all that you were able to do? I’m one of those people. Each year, I look back at all that I did and soak in the gratitude that comes with knowing that I was able to have the experiences.
2015 has been a year filled with many positives, but also the year where I’ve felt most stressed out. There were many adjustments, travel opportunities, being new to homeschooling my oldest two kids, and, of course, the daily responsibilities of being a mom to three plus an exchange student. I found it difficult to wear all these different hats at the same time and stay sane.
Today, I’m excited to have partnered with Aetna to assess my stress. This assessment will lead me to make the kind of mindful changes I want to see made in my life. For me, stress comes in the form of an internal pressure that I put on myself, to be better, to do better, and to perform better.
If you saw my calendar, you would probably have a panic attack – I do almost every morning! This is the time of the day is when I’m most stressed; mostly because I’m thinking about everything I have to do and how there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. I try to calm myself down with my morning coffee and tell myself everything will work out, but sometimes the stress outweighs the calm.
So what did I do in 2015? Well, I feel like I’ve travelled the entire globe at this point. I visited Spain with some of my kids, vacationed in Hawaii, did a book signing and an appearance on the TODAY Show in New York City, and travelled all over the country for different conferences and work meetings. Phew, I’m exhausted just thinking about it. Leaving the house for work (or fun) requires a lot of lists and preparation for someone else to care for my kids.
On top of all that, we took in an exchange student Jaime from Spain and transitioned two of our kids to homeschooling. This switch has put a lot of pressure on me as I am responsible for their education and filling their daytime schedule with activities.
This last summer, I released my second cookbook and wrote my third cookbook. Writing a cookbook is a slow process, one that needs to be broken down into achievable tasks to get it done. It also takes up a lot of free time in the evenings, and most weekends.
To say the least, it stresses me out to simply write out everything I’ve done in 2015. I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished, but I know that I need to spend more time being mindful of my personal needs and the time I spend with my family. I want to live a healthier life that is focused on other health aspects besides healthy eating and exercising. I want to focus on lowering my stress because it can have damaging effects on health, and reducing stress can boost wellbeing.
I don’t think the 5 minutes of quiet I spend in the morning waiting for my coffee to steep in the French press is enough to calm me down amidst all this daily chaos. One of my goals for 2016 is to make better use of my time by focusing on one thing at a time and putting work aside when I spend time with my husband and kids. By allocating my time wisely, I can get my work responsibilities done faster, so they’re out of my mind when it’s family time!
I know I’ll have even more tasks to do next year, but it’s the way I choose to handle them that will determine how stressed I feel. I want to take some time each day to do something that I enjoy, like going for a swim, working out, or reading a book, when I don’t have to think about anything else but what I’m doing.
2015 may have been a “hectic” year, but I’m determined to make 2016 a “mindful” year!
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This post was sponsored by Aetna, who believes health is about the body and the mind. Stress can affect emotional and physical health, and reducing stress can boost wellbeing. As part of their #Mindful30 challenge, the views and opinions expressed in my posts on the topic of mindfulness are my own, not Aetna’s. To learn more about mindfulness, visit aetnamindfulness.com.
Tiffany
It’s the New Year cliche’ but I am totally ready to leave this weight gain behind! I’m over it! Ugh! Happy new year!
Laura Fuentes
You’ve got this! You know it’s about making a commitment to yourself, not the weightloss. <3
Trish
I’m going to leave behind worry. It is the root of almost all of my stress. I’m going to work hard to live in the moment without worrying about all the things that are on my todo list.
Kristy
I would love to leave behind the stress of parenting one of my daughters and take more time to focus on the blessings that she is to our family. Leave behind the negative and focus on the positive and the growth she’s made.
Amanda P
I am committed to getting more sleep, even if that means I get less things done. I feel like I can be more productive if I am rested. I would rather do less things better than more things half-way. So that means I need to cut my to do list and prioritize because everything cannot get done.
Esther Marzá
Hopefully we will be leaving behind the stressfull and exhausting 5 (45 min)naps a day that my almost 7 month old catnapper baby is taking *yawn*
Looking forward to long naps to be able to have some me time aka showering and cleaning the house’:D
Sarah
To be less stressed in 2016, I would leave behind sleepless nights and bedtime routines!
Charlotte
I am leaving behind non-stop studying and stressing over taking a national and state exam since I just recently discovered I passed both exams! I am teaching my boys how to do certain chores around the house so they can help out with keeping the house clean. I am also taking personal training sessions for some time to myself while doing something good for my body.
Lillian Richardson
I plan to leave behind negative thoughts and negative people. Life is hard enough.
Lisa Marz
I’m planning to focus more on healthy eating and exercise next year. Thus hoping to leave stress and illness behind in 2016!
Cassie Ailstock
I am leaving behind my worries! Not going to worry about the what ifs in life. Just be happy
cathy
I’d leave behind clutter–it’s something I need to keep working on in 2016.
Melissa J
I want to try to be less serious all the time… I love to laugh as much as the next person, but I get caught up in the moment and can’t laugh in the face of chaos… “Don’t sweat the small stuff” is something I need to work on.
Janette Massino
I say I’m not perfect and my kids aren’t, but deep down I try. I put too much pressure on myself. I accept my children for who they are, but the pressure I put on myself to do it all is daunting. Since going back to work, I haven’t let go of anything. So over break, I am doing schedules and lists that put more on others, even keeping up with the schedule and lists.
Cathy
I want to leave behind the comparing myself to what I think other mom’s or families are doing and not enjoying our time and family as God has made us to be!
Teresa M.
I would like to leave behind worries about my mother’s cancer battle. Thanks for all your insight on healthier living.
Amanda
My husband, a United States Marine, was deployed and absent from home for roughly nine months in 2015. It was an extremely tough year for myself, four year old son, and two year old daughter as we adjusted to life without daddy. We overcame many challenges, found professional help when needed, and gained mental, physical, and spiritual strength to get us through the long days and night. In 2016 I will leave behind the anxiety and stress of running a family and household alone while worrying over my husband’s safety. It will be a year of counting our blessings and enjoying the little moments together as a family that we missed out on in 2015.
Laura Wade
Exercise! and Meditate!
Colleen
As I head into the new year, I am going to try to leave behind regret. There were many things that I had hoped to accomplish in 2015 but didn’t. However, I also realize that 2016 is indeed a new year full of possibilities and second chances. 🙂
Stephanie Bourne
I am leaving behind guilt. I cannot do everything and I have to accept my best is good enough.
Dana
I’d like to leave behind my stress over meal planning. I have lots of ideas but have trouble with execution. I’m going to try to watch Laura’s videos to help me become a better cook!
Amber
I would love to leave behind my job and my poorly organized house! However, only one of those will be worked on for now (my house!) 😉
Laura Fuentes
One thing at a time is great!!
Tasmin
With six kiddos 8 and under, life is often hectic. I am trying to look at one day at a time. I need to take care of me so I can take care of my family. My goals going forward to enjoy my family more, organize and de-clutter, cutting out more sugar, and enjoy an occasional mom only bath : >
Anna
I am committing to take 15 minutes for myself everyday. Sometimes that is a quiet cup of coffee, sometimes Facebook, sometimes a bubble bath (that stretches to 30 minutes). I have to be intentional about taking me time so that I don’t empty my energy bank.