So far we’ve talked about breathing techniques, exercise, journaling, positive thinking, meditating and taking time for yourself as great ways to support yourself on your infertility journey. Here are three more great ways to manage your fertility stress.
Laugh
Like the expression goes, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Laughter does amazing things to help with stress management!
Just like movement, laughter causes the brain to release endorphins, those feel-good chemicals. Laughing can help your muscles relax, and it definitely makes it easier to cope with difficult situations, including fertility problems!
So watch a funny movie, buy cards that make you laugh, subscribe to joke-a-day websites: anything that adds some levity to your life is worth doing!
In no particular order, here is a list of 10 of my favorite funny movies. It's an eclectic list covering vastly different times in movie history. But they're all funny. I promise!
The Philadelphia Story
My Blue Heaven
Father of the Bride (original or Steve Martin remake)
Some Like it Hot
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Princess Bride
In Bruges (if you like you comedy really dark)
Galaxy Quest
A Fish Called Wanda
Guardians of the Galaxy
Get Enough Sleep
It would be much easier if sleep were a one-size-fits-all thing, but it’s not. Some people need a good eight hours or more to feel functional, and others seem to get by just fine on four or five.
But one thing is probably true: most of us don’t get as much sleep as our bodies would like.
And that’s really too bad because sleep is critical for so many things including:
stress and anxiety management
hormone production (Including estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone—so pretty much all the ones you really want to be sure are fully working for you!!)
immune system function
maintaining a good mood
healthy sex drive (another thing that might help!)
While there is no hard and fast rule about how much sleep a person needs, at least seven hours a night is a good starting point. If you’re sleeping less than that, even if you think you feel fine, it might be worth experimenting with getting some additional sleep.
Pay Attention to Your Mental Health
Fertility problems are hard. Really hard. Tune into yourself and know when you need extra support. Maybe you just need some time off from trying, or maybe you need to go speak with a professional. Whatever the case may be, there is no shame in asking for help. This is your journey—don’t make yourself suffer unnecessarily.
So there you have it: 9 ways to manage fertility stress and feel like yourself again! (Head over to Part 1 and Part 2 if you missed them.)
If you feel like you could use even more help managing stress and keeping your wits about you on your fertility journey, let's have a chat. Sometimes a little extra support can make a world of difference!
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