HELLO STRESS MY OLD FRIEND.

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you’re probably aware that I have *a lot* going on right now.

Managing a lot of stuff at our restaurant, running a business, A BABY, keeping the house from burning down.

And I’m a person who thrives on stress.

I find that when I have just a little too much going on, that’s where I’m doing my best work. And that’s ok. Stress can be exciting. Motivating. It can push us beyond what we believe to be our limits.

Stress can help us grow.

But too much stress is 100% not ok. And recently, I got to a point where I stepped into the “not ok” zone.

When things get “not ok,” I take action quickly because I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford to be “not ok” with everything going on around me. I’m also hyper-aware of how stress can affect the body and my health, so just simply coping was not going to cut it.

Listen – we all go through seasons of life that bring a lot of stress. And oftentimes, there isn’t really anything we can do about it. But there are things we can do to HANDLE it, and today, I want to share some of the things that have been working well for me lately to handle it.

3 things that are helping me handle a stressful season

1. Ashwagandha

Where has ashwagandha been all my life?! I feel like I’m the only person who didn’t know about this little miracle adaptogen, but maybe you haven’t tried it yet either? Here is the one I’ve been using (I love Further Food – their chocolate collagen is a staple). Here are some of the benefits:

• relieves stress and anxiety

• improves adrenal function and lowers cortisol (huge key for keeping your metabolism in check during stressful times – cortisol can spike blood sugar and add belly fat!)

• helps balance mood and boost immunity

So, pretty much everything I need. And Further Food Premium Ashwagandha is the FIRST ashwagandha supplement to include bioavailability boosters, avocado oil, & black pepper for superior absorption.

It’s super important to take supplements in their bioavailable form, otherwise, you’re basically flushing your money down the toilet. No thank you.

Anyways, I’ve been taking a dose every morning, but a lot of people take it at night, too. I think it just depends on you. I’m kind of manic so I like to take it in the morning, lol.

As always, you can use NUTRITIONADDICTION to get 15% off.

2. Extremely basic self-care

It’s so funny how when things get tough, we suddenly forget to take care of ourselves. Like what is that? Just making sure I’m eating 3 healthy, PHFF meals, drinking a couple of liters of water, getting in some movement, GOING TO BED EARLY, and making time for human connection (call your mom) every day is doing wonders.

You cannot expect to manage anything in your life if you neglect your body. Period. Everything starts in your body.

3. Morning Pages

Honestly, I don’t do this every day because my mornings are f*cked (LOL) with an infant, but I do this when I can (doesn’t have to be morning) and it is GAME-CHANGING.

Basically, you just get out a notebook and write for 3 pages. Mine is totally not legible. Doesn’t need to be. Just start dumping everything out. What you’re grateful for, exciting things happening in your life, shitty things happening in your life, what obstacles you’re facing that day, how you’re gonna deal, what you dreamt about last night, what’s for dinner. Whatever.

I am a firm believer that all of life’s problems can be worked out in Morning Pages. Something magical just happens when you start getting it all on paper. You either come to a solution or you get to the end and think eh, this isn’t so bad. I can do this.

So, basic self-care + a writing exercise + a “boost” with ashwagandha (sometimes we need to cheat a little with supplements – nothing wrong with that!)

I hope this post helps anyone who’s goin’ through it right now. WE’VE GOT THIS.

Megan

P.S.  For PHFF meal ideas, check out our seasonal meal plans, or join the waitlist for Metabolism Makeover.

Some of the links on this page contain affiliate links, which means I get paid a lil bit of money if you purchase something I recommend. I would never, ever recommend a product I wouldn’t purchase myself (that’s so gross).