I began to notice that I would always have the panic attacks right before bed after I had said my prayers. Now, prayers aren't a very stressful activity for me, so that timing seemed odd. However, as I started to pay more attention to my mood and thought process that was happening when the panic attacks would set in, I realized that they happened at that time because before, during, and after my prayers is the time I always had to think about my day/life and what was going on. At that time, I had a lot of changes happening in my life (deciding what major to pursue, friends leaving and moving away). At that point in my life, I was not very good with change--I resisted it as much as possible. I realized that I was having panic attacks over all the situations in my life that I had no control over (can you say, 'control freak!').
I decided that I could either keep having these panic attacks, or I could realize that I only have so much control of what happens in my life. I had to find a way to deal with my stress or that anxiety was going to turn into a very real and debilitating problem. (Note: anxiety is such a serious problem for others, mine does not even come close to comparing with what others deal with). I figured, as an adult, that most people would frown upon me kicking and screaming when I don't get my way, so I needed to find another outlet. In the next few weeks I want to highlight some of the different actions I take to reduce the stress in my life. The one I want to start with is exercise.
Picture from the first, and last, time I ever played racquetball.
Exercise is a tricky subject for me. I played competitive soccer from the time I was nine. For a very long time I had hopes and dreams of going on and playing in college. I wasn't good enough to play for BYU (where I wanted to go to school) and I cared too much about my education to go to any of the smaller schools that were interested in me. So I quit. I went from training 20+ hours a week to having all the time in the world and no set schedule on when I was supposed to be at the gym. It was a little eerie, but also invigorating! I would go to the gym here or there, but I mostly just felt burned out from all my years of training. Once I started teaching and became a mom, I went from an occasional trip to the gym to just about never working out. As I started to
I've found what really helps me to keep motivated and go to the gym is to constantly mix it up. Since I've joined the gym I have done the Zumba, aquafit, and yoga classes. It sort of depends on the week, but I rotate those classes into using the treadmill one day, the bike another, lifting weights, and working on my core (sit ups and stuff like that). It's nice because I think J and I need breaks from each other! She gets to go play with the kids for an hour while I exercise. I don't like the idea of daycares, so it's great because I can just pop my head in or look through the window to make sure everything is legit. I definitely don't push myself like I used to be pushed when I was training for soccer. Someday I hope I will get back to that point, but for now my motto is, "It's all about the endorphins!" (I got that from my awesome marathon friend, this was her motto when she was pregnant). The endorphins that are released during exercise help me to be happy and more emotionally level throughout the day. It gives me a time and a place to work through the stressful situations that may be happening in life (insert nasty thoughts about packing up all of our belongings and moving across the country...again!!)
HOLY NOVEL! Gold star if you are still reading!
Do you exercise?
If no, what gets in your way?
If yes, what helps you stay motivated to keep going? What are your favorite forms of exercise?
What are some of your favorite stress relievers?
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