Does it seem like you never have enough time to get things done. Are you always on the go? Do you find yourself over whelmed with responsibilities? If so, you know what it’s like to be stressed out.
Long-term stress can cause a lot of nasty health problems. It can lower your immune system making you more susceptible to infections. It has a direct affect on the cardiovascular system causing high blood pressure and increases your chances of heart disease and stroke. Continuous stress causes the body to stay in “flight or fight” mode and the liver produces high levels of blood sugar. If this happens, you’re at risk to develop type 2 diabetes. It can affect your memory; make you depressed, or more aggressive.
There are some easy ways to reduce or eliminate stress in your life.
Eat right – don’t skip meals, limit junk food, drink plenty of water, substitute teas for coffee and energy drinks. Green teas have natural antioxidants and a soothing and calming effect on the nervous system.
Laugh or Cry – laughter releases endorphins that counteract hormones that causes stress. Crying rids the body of harmful stress induced hormones.
Exercise – simple stretching exercises, a short walk, or yoga all work wonders to improve our mood and release stress
Rest – lack of sleep actually increases stress. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Having trouble falling asleep? Listen to soothing music or sounds. Avoid caffeine late in the day. Try Rooibos Tea. It’s an herbal, caffeine free tea with excellent calming abilities.
Take Deep Breaths – slow, deep breathes by inhaling through the nose and slowly exhaling through the mouth oxygenates the blood, clears the mind, and lowers stress.
Talk – find someone to talk to. Make sure that person is someone you can trust and will be sympathetic and reassuring. Can’t find someone, then talk to yourself. Make a plan that you can easily achieve and then tell yourself everything will be OK and tomorrow will be another day.
Touch – hold a loved one’s hand, pet your cat or dog, hug you child, or get a massage.
Sound – forget rock and roll when you’re stressed. Try classical music, wind chimes, or simple natural sounds like ocean waves or cascading water.
Hobbies – pick a fun hobby, something you enjoy and allows you to escape from the daily grind
Get Rid Of Clutter – clutter causes stress so clean up your house or office and keep it in order
Learn To Say “No” – don’t take on more than you can do in a day. Find different ways to get unpleasant tasks done. Learn to nicely say no to extra responsibilities or obligations that you know you can’t possibly fit into your schedule.
