Midlife forced me to change my response to stress.

We all experience stress. We have big stressors and little stressors.

For most of my young adult life, I managed my little stressors through prayer, venting to someone, exercising, laughing, and eating comfort foods.

This worked well for me. As I entered my 40s and midlife's pesky changes, I found myself leaning a little more on the eating comfort foods side. It was just easier, faster, and so enjoyable. 

As my hormones shifted and my weight increased, I felt even more stress from it all. 

I needed to add to my stress management options and rely a little less on the eating comfort foods.

One simple thing I learned to do was breathe.

Yep, I said breathe.

Of course, we are always breathing, but how do you breathe?

Taking full inhales and exhales for 10 breaths (about 2 minutes) can bring your central nervous system back into a state of relaxation. 

I have found that if I can do this several times throughout the day, I feel much more calm and am less likely to run to my comfort foods over life's little stressors.

Stopping to do a short meditation, body scan, or watch a quick funny video are also good ways to get myself out of a stress response and into a relaxed response. 

You can do quick and easy things to help bring your stress hormone down. You will be less likely to go grab that sugary food or drink. 

Now, no judgment here. You can have a variety of stress relieving things to do throughout the day. 

For me, adding a few healthier options, has been a game changer. 

Turn these healthier options into habits and you'll see and feel a difference.

Rather than judging or trying to eliminate your current habits around how you respond to stress, focus on adding some nice breathing.

You may be surprised to see what a difference it makes.

The problem becomes remembering to do this new breathing thing.

You can have all the tips and information our there, but if you don't know how to act on it in your everyday routine, it won't mean anything.

How do you start a new habit? How do you take a new action long enough to see if it works?

You learn how to form habits-the right way!

How do you form a habit of stopping throughout the day to "breathe"?

Get your free Midlife Guide and learn how you can easily form new habits to better manage your midlife stressors.