Take Charge of Stress with my SALLY System
Posted on July 08, 2022 by Kate Chartrand, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Learn the simple steps of my signature SALLY System to take charge of stress so it doesn't take control of you!
You are the manager over your thoughts, emotions, and actions, and there’s one important emotion on your team who is responsible for protecting you – I like to call her Sally Stress. When your brain senses you’re in danger, either because of an actual event or your thoughts, Sally comes to protect you. If you pay attention to your body, you can sense when she’s coming. Your muscles tense, your heart beats faster, your chest feels tight… And when she’s with you, she can actually give you an energy boost so you can be safe, or rise to a challenge.
But, if she sticks around too long, that’s when things can get ugly (what we would call chronic stress). She can even morph into Burnout, making you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and detached from your family. You feel stuck and unmotivated to do things that you used to enjoy, like playing with your kids or doing hobbies.
I created the SALLY System so you can avoid Burnout and successfully manage Stress in your everyday life:
S is for Stop: Stop when you notice Sally Stress coming – notice the body signals that she sends (fast heartbeat, tense muscles, sweaty palms, etc.).
Accept her: Accept that Sally’s there to protect you from danger, and that the energy boost she brings can help keep you safe or motivate you.
Let her help: Let Sally’s energy boost help you in the moment, but only let her stay for a few seconds, if you can. You might get motivated to do something you’ve been procrastinating, or to get your kids where they need to be on time.
Let her go: Let Sally go, using any kind of repetitive action (rub your fingers together/do square breathing/do jumping jacks/go on a walk). If she still doesn’t get the message, pray (if you’re religious) write in your journal, or talk to a friend. These things will help you change your perspective of the situation, so you don’t feel threatened.
You time: Take time for yourself every day to stay STRONG and resilient.
Here’s another acronym for you to remember – STRONG!
The S stands for Sleep – try as hard as you can to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep every 24 hours. Sneak in naps if you need to, especially if you have little ones who aren’t sleeping through the night.
T represents Thought training – practicing mindfulness, affirmations, and gratitude for just a few minutes a day can train your brain to let go of toxic thoughts and focus on resilient thoughts.
R is for Recharge and reach out – schedule in time every single day to do something fun that recharges you. Take a power nap, call a friend, do an act of kindness – whatever fills you with energy and rejuvenation – even if it’s just for five minutes a day.
O represents Outdoors and exercise. Taking 15 minutes a day to go walking outside does wonders for your stress level and happiness!
N is for Nutrition. Fresh fruits and vegetables can help reduce your stress, while sugar and processed foods can increase stress. Probiotics, fiber, and healthy fats can help your body detox from an overload of stress hormones. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water so your body and brain can function well!
Lastly, G stands for Greater meaning. In every challenge, you can find greater meaning behind it. What lessons are you learning? How are you growing? How is this helping you and/or your child become stronger and develop the characteristics you want? Every challenge can be turned into a gift and growth opportunity.
When you’re ready for my help to let go of stress so you can enjoy your life, please reach out to me!
