Stress management often focuses on prioritizing your work-life balance, managing expectations, and relaxation techniques like mindfulness. While they all work, these techniques are not for everyone. If you focus on the three basics of good health – food, sleep, and physical activity. They’re just as powerful tools to help you be less stressed.
Health impact of stress
Stress is like anger – it’s destructive, and there’s a health impact. When you’re consistently stressed, your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar increase due to the extra adrenaline and cortisol that your body creates to deal with the extra load of stress. That’s just the beginning. Science also indicates it changes the size of your brain that affects your memory and lowers functions that are non-essential like your immune and gastrointestinal systems.
When you’re frazzled, it’s tough to lead a healthy lifestyle. Stress is often the catalyst for sleeping less, eating more, and having a short fuse at work and home.
How A Healthy Lifestyle Lowers Stress
First of all, do not stress about being stressed. It’s a natural reaction to overwhelm and you have a lot of company. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 7 out of 10 adults feel stressed or anxious daily.
Our bodies are pre-wired for it. So, be self-aware. Observe your symptoms and don’t judge yourself for it. That will only complicate the situation by adding more stress. Remind yourself of this when you notice you’re getting stressed.
Know your symptoms of stress. Do you experience:
Less sleep?
Muscle aches or pain?
Headaches?
Lose hair?
Skin issues like hives or eczema flares?
Illness?
Memory impairment?
Angry or irritable?
Emotional lability or mood swings?
Depression?
Anxiety?
Negative thinking and self-talk?
How many of these physical and mental symptoms do you feel? What triggers these feelings?
Identify your stress triggers and symptomatic reactions to them with these 4 powerful yet simple stress management exercises.
When you’re ready to take the next step, select one area you want to improve — sleep, nutrition, or exercise. Spend 30 minutes identifying ways to make some changes to your daily routine and then decide on one to take action and several modalities with a track record for creating the space for more.
Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to eat better, sleep more, and exercise. It’ll just make you more stressed. Take one step at a time.
Get inspiration and suggestions to lower stress, monthly. I want monthly reminders to lower stress
Source:livelifegetactive
