How Stress Effects…Everything

This last week has been stressful for the whole world, I understand that I’m not unique in that way. But working in health care, it’s a little different for me in some ways. While others are working less, I’m at risk of having to work more. I’m higher risk of getting sick. Plus, I’m worried this will effect my vacation in less than 3 weeks 😭!

Work is very stressful right now. Honestly, it’s not the actual illness of Covid 19 that is making me stressed (don’t get me wrong, if you are elderly or immune compromised, you don’t want to get it). But the panic, and the unknown as we venture into something I have not experienced in my 10 years as a medical provider is unnerving. It’s hard to say what my next couple weeks will look like. We are in a bit of a new frontier, a pandemic in modern times.

I was planning on running a 10k in a couple weeks, which has already been cancelled. There is even some concerns about something I’m signed up for in May. Sometimes, life throws you some curve balls. Luckily my plan was to take it a bit easier this year. But it doesn’t look like anyone is going to be racing much in March/April. So what’s my training plan? Honestly, since running is a great stress reliever, my mileage this week is the highest it’s been in a while 😂! But I have to remind myself sometimes that it’s ok to run just for the sake of running. It doesn’t always have to be part of a plan. Sometimes it can just be for physical, and more importantly mental health.

Exercise is a great stress reliever. Everyone has their own ways of dealing with stress. I’ve done some yoga; but honestly, nothing is as effective as a run outside to clear your head and release some tension. But you do you; whatever helps you cope when your mind is going a mile a minute.

Its probably a good thing I’m running more too, cuz I’ve definitely been stress eating. Truth be told, when you are stressed, eating Greek yogurt and an apple 🍎 is not as self-soothing as eating half a bag of Cadbury mini eggs 🤣.