Soul Sustenance: 3 Ways to Reduce Stress and Feel More Empowered

 

2021 was a doozy, there is no arguing there. While we may all still be feeling the stress that 2021(and even 2020) brought, did you know that women have reported having experienced higher levels of stress than men?

Studies have shown that women are more likely to report their rising stress levels, and are more likely to exhibit stress-related symptoms than men. So how can we work to support, uplift and empower women this year, in order to help alleviate stress and improve overall well being?

Corie Adjmi, award-winning author of ‘Life and Other Shortcomings’, and author of the upcoming book ‘The Marriage Box’, uses the power of storytelling to uplift and empower women through their relatable, universal experiences. She shares a few ways that we can help lift up and empower women in 2022.

Here are Corie’s top three tips to help reduce stress and feel more empowered this new year:

Tip #1: Take care of yourself first
You have to take care of yourself before you can adequately take care of others. As women, we tend to prioritize others before ourselves, but we need to learn how to take care of ourselves before helping others. Remember that It is okay, and even necessary, to care for yourself before tending to others. For example, on a plane, you're told to put an oxygen mask on your child before yourself - the same applies here.

Tip #2: Cherish the relationships you have 
Nurture your life more than your daily checklists. Focus on your relationships and connections with people: make this a priority just as much as what you have to get done, and this ability to connect with others will reduce stress. We can tend to get too wrapped up in all the stuff that needs to get done, where we want to be, and where we are not, that we forget to be thankful and find harmony in all the year has, and will, offer us. 

Tip #3: Cultivate gratitude and practice it daily
Perspective is everything. While we all know gratitude is important, how many of us make it a priority in our day? Having an attitude of gratitude can help reduce stress and stay focused on what's important, every single day.