April is Stress Awareness Month, so it seems like an important time to lean into mindset - one of the four pillars of my Creation Continuum. And while we’d love to avoid stress altogether, we know that’s just not realistic.
People walking through a fertility journey have comparable stress levels to those of a cancer patient (according to research from the Mayo Clinic).
So how can we manage the stress of our daily lives in a way that supports our body and cultivates fertility? Again, I like to go back to the basics. Most of my favorite stress relievers are free and accessible to anyone.
Tips for Lowering Stress & Supporting Fertility
Movement: Moving your body is a great way to boost your serotonin and dopamine - feel good endorphins that help balance your mood and promote a sense of well-being. Exercise should be fun (not punishment!), so find something that makes you feel good! You don’t need a gym membership or even a huge block of time. A brisk 20 minute walk around your neighborhood is a great start! If you like to walk and listen to something, I recommend feel-good music instead of a podcast. We can connect to the energy of music, and if we play music we love, we can be transported to a time that feels happy and fun - putting an extra spring in our step!
Breathwork: Many of us feel like we are constantly in a state of fight or flight. Anxiety gets the best of us, and our cortisol levels are through the roof. Breathwork is simply a way of grounding us and reminding our bodies that we are safe and able to relax. Here are some simple breathwork exercises you can start today.
Gratitude Journaling: As a coach, I encourage anyone on a fertility journey to begin journaling as a way of addressing their daily stressors. Some days it might be difficult to feel grateful. Start small - notice the little things in your day that bring you a sense of gratitude (your morning coffee, a sweet text exchange with a friend, long hugs from your partner). Be sure to join my FREE Journaling Challenge to get prompts sent directly to your inbox!
Affirmations: We become what we believe that we are. Speaking positive affirmations into your life can help you build resilience and better navigate stress. Here are a few that I find helpful to write down and meditate upon throughout the day:
I treat myself with kindness, respect & patience.
I am stronger than I think.
I ask for help when I feel overwhelmed.
I release all worry, fear, and anxiety.
I am not alone in this process.
5. Connect with Your Feminine: So many of us lean heavily on our masculine energy to “power through” the stressors of life. I work with my clients on tapping into their feminine energy to support a healthy lifestyle. You can read more about my favorite ways to connect with your feminine energy here.
All of these practices allow your body to drop into a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state, which regulates your stress levels (among many other benefits!). And to hold myself accountable to these practices, I set alarms on my phone throughout the day to remind me of these important priorities.
Now - wherever you are - take a few big, deep breaths, relax your shoulders, and remove one thing from your to-do list. You deserve to feel safe. You deserve to rest.