Did you know that August is National Wellness Month?
Are you stressed out by your job, too many bills to pay or deadlines? Do you care for a child with autism or a parent with dementia? Worried about Covid 19 and masks and vaccines? So many things can create ongoing chronic stress in our lives today
But did you know that stress can affect you physically?
Stress can cause headaches, stomach aches, back pain, depression, anxiety, weaken your immune system, and increase your risk of chronic disease.
Long, sustained periods of stress can increase inflammation in your brain which can lead to depression. When you are depressed your immune system is also depressed.
You can’t always change the things that cause you stress but you can change how you react to stress. There are things you can do to rewire your brain to have more positive responses to everyday stressors. Learning stress relief techniques and practicing them daily can have a powerful, positive impact in your life.
Here are some techniques that you can practice every day to change how you react to stress:
Be grateful. Everyday write down three things, no matter how big or small, that you are grateful for. When you feel stressed look at your notes to remind yourself what brings you joy.
Breathing Techniques. When you’re stressed your breath tends to be rapid and shallow. Practice techniques that help you guide the rhythm and depth of your breath – this will restore calm and balance to the nervous system, increase oxygen circulation in the blood, and help to lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
Meditate. Meditation allows you to stay centered while observing your thoughts as they come and go. Even just a few minutes each day of focusing on your breath and repeating a mantra has a powerful impact on your overall health.
Guided Imagery. Your body responds to stress that is real (like a lion chasing you) and stress that is perceived (being stuck in traffic) the same way. You will also respond to positive mental images in the same way. Invoke a positive image to induce a positive mental state. Create a “happy place” and visit it every day 😊
Exercise Regularly. Your body can fight stress better when you are fit. Think about how to add in extra movement throughout your day – take a walk around the block, take the stairs, park in the back of the lot.
Sleep Well. Your body needs time to recover from stressful events. See last week’s newsletter for tips on sleeping well.
Eat Real Food. Stress can cause emotional eating and create hard-to-resist cravings for unhealthy food. Eating plant-based, whole-foods gives your body the nutrients it needs to help maintain a healthy mental balance.
Take the time to learn a couple of these stress management techniques. The combination of a healthy diet, regular exercise, and sleeping well with stress reduction is a powerful way to stop and undo a wide variety of chronic diseases.
Your challenge this week is to learn a stress management technique and make a part of your daily routine.
Which technique appeals most to you?
How do you plan on working it into your daily routine?
Post in the comments below and let me know.
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