Sara Haines Shares Her Secrets For Staying Positive, Easing Stress, and Feeling Joyful
For more than a decade, journalist Sara Haines has spent her days sharing stories of hope, triumph, and the power of love. In 2018, she became the co-host of GMA3: Strahan, Sara, & Keke, which features inspiring news from across the nation.
Due to the pandemic, the show has gone on hiatus, but in the meantime, Sara isn’t slowing down — she’s still reporting feel-good news on SS&K’s social media accounts and began Couples in Quarantine, an uplifting new interview series on Instagram and YouTube.
“Now more than ever, I’m moved when people do good things for each other”, Sara shares with FIRST. “It fills me with hope for a loving world and better days to come!”
Here, Sara’s tips to staying healthy and blissful!
Calms Cravings: Crunchy Quick Snacks
“There’s nothing like nuts to keep cravings at bay,” Sara says with a smile. “I always keep packs of assorted almonds, macadamias, and hazelnuts on hand. They’re great for a quick energy boost. I also love Flackers, flaxseed crackers. They’re yummy and healthy!”
Bonus: Potassium in almonds keeps you feeling full for up to an hour longer than regular snacks.
Radiance Booster: Fashionable Skin-Savers
“A floppy hat is a fun accessory, but I also love how it protects my scalp, ears, and face from harmful UV rays,” Sara says. “Polarized sunglasses do the same for my eyes — I live in both during the summer!”
Feeds the Soul: An Inspiring Book
“Reading is medicine for the mind, heart and soul!” Sara enthuses. “I prefer fictional novels, but a favorite of mine that I always go back to is The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle (Buy on Amazon, $10.02). That book is a great reminder that all we have is right now, the present. When I had my son Caleb, I couldn’t put down The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer (Buy on Amazon, $13.05). A few days after having him, I was crying and looked like a mess, but that had nothing to do with hormones. The book was so emotional and touched me in such a powerful way. I love when a book makes you feel so deeply. It’s healing and restorative.”
Instant Joy Booster: Timeless Gratitude
“Every challenge is the chance to learn something about yourself,” Sara says. “When I get stuck in a cycle of dread or stress, I mentally list the things I’m thankful for. But I’ve learned that gratitude doesn’t have to be just about the things you have right now; it can be experience and blessings from the past too. I’m so grateful for my family and SS&K, but I also think back to my first job as an NBC page because it taught me so much. It works every time!”
Beats the Blues: Living Your Truth
“Feeling comfortable in your skin is a daily exercise,” Sara explains. “I don’t think anyone loves who they are all the time. When I have a bad day, I try to remember the advice I’d tell a younger me: ‘You’re not going to be the most talented, popular, perfect person. You’re going to have good days and bad ones too.’ I used to compare myself to others, but now I try to focus on the things that fill my heart, like being a wife, mother, friend, and my work on the show. I try to do those things to my very best, but give myself the space to know I am not perfect — and that’s okay!”
Sara’s Secret to Peace: An Open Heart
Sara says one of the biggest things that has gotten her through the fear and uncertainty of the pandemic was reflecting back on the feel-good stories she and her co-hosts covered on GMA3: Strahan, Sara, & Keke, which is now on a temporary hiatus.
“I’ve had so many amazing professional opportunities, but if I had to pick just one goal for my career, it would be to help people smile and truly feel,” she says. “Growing up, I was nurtured to always feel emotions and embrace them — that’s what I want to do for others too!”
Fueled by that mission, Sara and her co-hosts on SS&K worked to take viewers’ minds off the sadness and stress of everyday life, scouring the country for stories of positivity that inspired viewers to handle tough situations, learn a new skill or hobby, or be the hope in their community that starts a magnificent ripple effect of positive change.
“We all love hearing and sharing extraordinary stories that show what the human spirit is capable of,” she gushes. “It instantly opens your heart to hear about good news, and in the last few months that has been such a constant source of comfort and peace for me.”
This article originally appeared in our print magazine, First For Women.
