Are you overwhelmed, exhausted, time-pressed, driven, and stressed out? Are you convinced there isn’t anything you can change to allow you to slow down and take care of yourself? Do you think that the only way to get rid of stress is to spend money on massages, vacations, entertainment, or professional counseling? Here are four things you can do that don’t cost anything that will remove stress and help you nurture yourself:

1. Simplify your life. Simplifying your life can revolutionize your life. There are many things we do that we think have to be done a certain way that really don’t have to be done a certain way. When you simplify, you do what you have to do but in an easier way— whatever that might mean. It could mean you buy food instead of cook it, use paper plates instead of dishes, have a simpler party, go to only one store to shop, give a gift certificate instead of looking for the perfect gift, keep your house less perfect, call instead of stopping by to visit, e-mail instead of call or mail, or whatever else makes your necessary tasks easier.

2. Rest and recoup regularly. You will never get everything done, so the only way to rest is to put things aside for awhile. Take time to recoup by doing something that refreshes you. It can be a whole day or a half an hour. It might be going to the park or beach or just taking a nap or a walk or it might be sitting down to read or watch TV. If you don’t know what revitalizes you, find out and then do it on a regular basis. You will actually be more efficient when you are refreshed.

3. Say no. Assess your life. What are you doing that you don’t have to do? What are you doing that you don’t want to do? Start eliminating by letting go of the non-essentials. Then start saying no to new things that you don’t want or have to do. Only you can control what comes into your life. If you don’t learn to say no, you will always be overwhelmed and stressed—and unhappy.

4. Ask for help. It often is easier to do something yourself than to ask someone else, but before you know it, you will be doing everything. Start asking for help from people around you: kids, spouse, siblings, friends, co-workers, and parents. Let other people help you—even if they won’t do it perfectly. When you ask for help, tell people specifically what they can do. Then sit back and let them do it, without jumping in, except to remind them if it isn’t done. You really don’t have to do everything.

None of those things require money or time. They only require a prioritization of your life, an evaluation of what you can do to make things easier for you, and a commitment to taking care of yourself.

By Karla Downing

Relationship Devotional Prayer

 
God,

Give me wisdom to see where I can change my choices to take better care of the body, soul, and spirit that you gave me.

Relationship Devotional Challenge

• Simplify your life.
• Rest and recoup regularly.
• Say no.
• Ask for help.

Scripture Meditation

 
Ephesians 5:29

“After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church” (NIV).

Mark 6:30-31

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’” (NIV).