International Stress Awareness Day is the first Wednesday in November. But even if you atre reading this later, the tips are still just as suitable!
The Definition of Stress
Stress is a normal experience, but how we experience stress and how we handle it is really what matters.
Some people manage stress through unhealthy behaviours such as eating or drinking too much. Others smoke more, and others spend hours on social media or shopping excessively as a form of escape. Others will leave work late to avoid the stressors at home, and some people gamble to escape what they are experiencing.
However, these are coping strategies that damage you further, so today I offer an opportunity for you to discover ways to manage your own stresses better, and lead to a happier life.
Identify What is Causing You to Stress
Isolate the thing that is causing your stress and ask yourself some questions:
- How important will this be in 6 months’ time?
- Is my approach appropriate and effective?
- What can I learn from the situation?
- What can I do differently next time?
You may like to write the question and answer on paper, or talk about it to a trusting friend. Doing this simple exercise can allow you to see things from a different perspective, learn from your behaviours, and set up the next step to take action if needed.
Do Some Exercise
Moving the body helps clear the mind and helps bring clarity to the situation – it can help you manage stress in a much more constructive and positive way.
Tune in to your body, and do whatever form of movement is right for you. It may be playing with the dog, going for a 10 minute brisk walk, or dancing to a favourite song.
Practice Relaxation
When we are very stressed, it actually takes effort to relax! For those who are very high strung, activities such as yoga, walking meditation, or Tai chi may be a good start. Otherwise mindfulness, meditation, mantra, prayer, and breathing exercises are wonderful examples of activities that soothe the nervous system, reset the stress response, and bring about a sense of calm and grounding.
The Next Level of Support
If you are feeling wired, exhausted, overwhelmed or on the edge of burnout, book a call to speak to us today. (Not at the expense of also seeing your GP or psychologist)
Our stress threshold changes in accordance to environmental impacts, nutritional status of the body, and hormone balance.
Many of our patients discover that as their energy improves, so too does their response to stress! Anxiety, depression, overwhelm are all signs of a depleted system, and natural medicine offers wonderful solutions to help you on the road to better health.
Book a call – we would love to chat!
