How I Kicked Divorce Stress To The Curb

 

The dreaded divorce, it finally happened. While that wasn’t the best time of my life (not by far), there are a few great things that came out of it. My entire life I battled with stress and anxiety and the issues escalated during my divorce.

However, separation from my husband also gave me the time and will to tackle my mental health problems and kick stress to the curb. There were some activity and sporting attempts that failed for me, but others hit the spot head on!

I kicked divorce stress to the curb with the following activities.

Meditate on it

The first thing I tried during my battle with stress was meditation. There are so many amazing benefits this practice can bring you—it helps with stress, anxiety, worry, and depression. Through meditation, one can find peace of mind, return to balance and stay in the present. It’s overall great for mental health as well as panic attacks. Now that I know a few meditation techniques, as soon as I feel panic creeping in, I know how to control it and prevent it from escalating.

Boxing

Boxing is an activity that truly saved my life after divorce! I was looking for something that would help me banish the stress (and anger) out of my body and keep me fit in the process—I certainly found what I was looking for. And don’t be intimidated by the fact that boxing and other martial arts are predominately male sports. There are wonderful programs that concentrate only on women and girls, so you can feel completely safe.

But, make sure to keep a few things in mind before attending boxing classes for girls, such as equipment, warm-ups, cooldowns and various techniques that await you. Luckily, you can find plenty of info online, so you’ll be 100% prepared. However, nothing can prepare you for the sense of relaxation and satisfaction you’ll feel after your first sparring—it’s so therapeutic! Plus, the community is amazing and very supportive.

Run your way to stress relief

Another thing I tried in order to get that stress, negative energy and tension out of my body is running. Running is a great way to sweat it all out and it really helps with sleep. It’s especially beneficial to run outdoors in nature and fresh air. While I still do it periodically to keep me in shape for my boxing classes, running just wasn’t an activity for me. Honestly, if find it a bit boring. What can I say, I’m a social person!

Get Zen with yoga

Yoga is still a huge part of my life, even though I concentrate on boxing more. It’s just such a great tool that not only helps people relax but it also relieves anxiety and minimizes sleep issues connected to stress. Plus, it’s much harder and physically demanding than you might think! It activates every part of your body and keeps your mind in balance. While I prefer something more high-paced, yoga will surely help many of you out there battling with stress.

Hit the beach

Or your local swimming pool and do some laps. What’s great about swimming is that it’s perfect for all ages, all fitness levels and even for people with joint and mobility issues (it’s very low-impact). While you’re in the water, you allow your brain a break that provides clearer thinking. However, swimming is not exactly a social sport, so if you’re looking for a way to meet new people and have fun while working out, pick something else (boxing, seriously, try it now!)

While my divorce ended a few years ago, I still struggle with a few things and get that oh-so-familiar nausea in my stomach when I think about it. Luckily, I’m no longer a slave to my stress and while it’s still there, I manage it a thousand times better thanks to these amazing activities. Go give them a shot today!