Feeling anxious or stressed lately?

Howdy friend!

Today, I’m sharing a quick personal update and offering space for connection both in person or online.

In short, I’ve been feeling extremely overwhelmed due to a few changes in my personal and work life. My living situation has shifted and I’m adjusting to some new contract work, which has turned out to be a lot more stressful all at once than I anticipated!

So, in case it’s useful to you, I’m sharing helpful tips to nourish yourself during times of heightened anxiety and stress. And, if you’re wondering, this is also a bit of what I’ve been doing over the past several weeks to take care of myself.

• Maintaining a consistent eating pattern, even if it means smaller meals with snacks in between, is important for sustaining energy levels and providing your body with essential macronutrients. This approach helps avoid the crash that often follows skipped meals and large binges afterward.

• Speaking of macronutrients, incorporating a balanced mix of proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates in each meal can help stabilize your mood, regulate hormones, and maintain energy levels.

• Remember, hydration is key! Drinking enough water is crucial for concentration, mood, memory, and energy, especially during stressful times. Even mild dehydration can negatively affect how you feel.

• Prioritizing sleep quality and quantity is vital. Even if stress shortens your sleep duration, aim to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Practices like meditation, journaling, and somatic exercises, such as progressive muscle relaxation (my favorite tool lately), can enhance sleep quality and manage stress-induced sleep disturbances.

• Be mindful of caffeine and sugar intake, as caffeine can heighten anxiety for those sensitive to its effects due to genetic variations. On days of poor sleep, sugar cravings often increase due to hormonal fluctuations.

  Keep in mind that poor sleep can impair your body's ability to efficiently process sugar, resulting in higher blood sugar levels and decreased insulin sensitivity, which means your body struggles to use insulin to convert sugar into energy.

We’ll be chatting in more detail about nourishing yourself during time of stress on the next Unforked podcast episode, btw! Tune in to hear about the last two tips (plus a bonus tip!) Thursday, September 12th.

How do you prioritize self care during times of anxiety/stress? I’d love to hear from you - hit reply to this email!

Join Me For Self-Care September

Speaking of self care, if you’re a local to Northern Wyoming, I’ll be speaking at all three Club Dauntless locations for Self-Care September! If you’re a Club Dauntless member, I’d love to see you in person and connect over nutrition’s role in mental and physical fitness.

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