‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude’ -Maya Angelou

Change is the only constant — It’s happening everyday, in every minute. We adopt puppies. We experience heartache. We experience love. We lose our wallet. We start a new hobby. We lose weight. We gain weight. We lose friends. We meet new friends. While some people handle life’s inevitable plans with dignity and grace — others freak the f-out (raises hand). Which gets me thinking: Why don’t they teach this in school? Then, the real stuff happens. Like, the really big stuff that nobody can prepare for. We get married. We buy houses. We have babies. We deal with loss & death. All of it. It just comes, and it’s up to us to figure it all out! (Thank God for Mamas though, am I right?)

I’m at that age where everyone is getting engaged, married, buying homes (which means leaving me in the city!) & adding adorable bundles of joy to their families. In my opinion: This is the good stuff! What life is all about. (Although some may disagree). All amazing, exciting things that I cannot wait to be part of. But sometimes, life can hit you all at once, and you’re all like ‘what the hell just happened?’ — It feels like yesterday I was attending prom with my BFF, or tip-toeing waking the entire house up after a night of drinking with girlfriends. The good old days that just pass by oh-so-quickly. Sometimes, I would give anything to have those moments back. (Wouldn’t we all?).

Life can get you where it hurts, all at once. I’ve never been good at change, and there’s been a ton of it as of late. (Blame the age!) It’s easy to get focused into what everyone else is doing, instead of staying in your own lane of life. But, regardless — there’s one thing that isn’t changing anytime soon, and that’s change itself! Every change, whether positive/negative can take a toll on your health. Today, I’m sharing some ways to cope: Feel free to chime in! xx

5 WAYS TO DEAL WITH CHANGE

GET FIT: Get physical, baby! Get in the best shape of your life. Pickup a new sport; whether it’s playing basketball (how I met my fiancé!) or getting in the boxing ring — It’s time to boost those feel-good endorphins. Just by raising your heart-rate can improve your overall outlook/emotions. Don’t forget to stretch! Experts weigh in to say — flexibility can actually increase mental focus and awareness. Time to sharpen that tongue of yours!

TRAVEL: No, I’m not saying to run away from your problems — but, sometimes it’s a good idea to get out of your bubble/comfort zone for a few days. Take some time to reflect, and experience some new adventures. Take an adult time-out (the best). Oh, and if you don’t have kids — use this time to enjoy the peace & flexibility. It’s all about perspective!

EAT HAPPY: Do you ever notice your mood levels when you’re on a diet? If it’s anything like me: you’re not a happy camper. To prevent low blood sugar, make sure you’re eating small nutrient-packed meals throughout the day (easier said than done, I know) Even if it’s just eating small snacks like: bananas, fruits/veggies or nuts — these can actuallyy help improve your mood due to serotonin levels of the brain. (the happy corner)

TALK IT OUT: We all need a support system at one time or another, so it’s important to talk with friends + family regularly. Consider it ‘free therapy’ and lean on those who care about you! Sometimes, we just need another perspective, and some extra words of encouragement to give us a dose of reassurance and hope. Remember: You’re not alone in dealing with change, it’s happening to each and every one of us.

WATCH YOUR LIP: Life is all about attitude. It’s how we handle those rough times that define who we really are. A positive attitude makes all the difference in the world both mentally and physically. If you’re willing to rise above and beyond these bumps than you’ll most likely come out stronger than ever! A negative mind is like construction — You’re not going to go anywhere. I’ve struggled with this one as of late — I’m working on it! Check out ‘5 ways to be more grateful in 5 minutes’ and ‘the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal’. It’s all about training the mind.