Feeling Stressed? Overworked? It seems that we all are these days. With many of us working two jobs, raising kids and taking care of elderly family members it often feels overwhelming. This constant stressed state can affect our sleep, contribute to anxiety, or depression, and put us at risk for a heart attack, or stroke. So maybe it’s time we found out what simple things we can do about it. We owe it to ourselves and our loved one to consider these simple stress reducing techniques.
Daily Exercise: Did you know that exercising not only reduces stress but actually improves your mental and emotional well being. It doesn’t take a great deal of time either. Even 10 minutes of moderate exercise a day can improve your mood and decrease fatigue. For additional benefits, work towards the recommended 30 to 60 minutes a day and you will improve your sleep, and cut the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
Proper Sleep: Getting as much as 8 hours of sleep a night allows your body to deal with stress and rejuvenate. Sleep deprivation has a profound impact on the bodies response to stress. Additionally, the sleep you get from 10 PM to 12 PM is twice as beneficial as those hours after midnight. The body also has important work to do during the hours of 10 PM until 2 AM like dumping toxins and recharging the adrenals.
Eat healthy: The body needs proper nutrition to function at peak performance. This means eating wholesome balanced and nutritious meals, not fast food. Eat often throughout the day to manage blood sugar and ward off the dizziness and anxiety which can precipitate a drop in blood sugar. Skipping meals only compounds the stress response.
Proper Supplementation: Even those who eat a healthy diet find it difficult to get enough vital nutrition to promote or sustain health. Getting additional nourishment by taking a food source vitamin/mineral supplement is key to having a strong, vibrant, healthy life.
Stimulates: Avoid stimulates like caffeine, sugar and even sugar substitutes (like Aspartame) and MSG. These substances offer no nutritional value but can further deplete and stress the body. The body runs on real nutrition. You will find no help using these substances.
Relaxation: We live in a time of tremendous rate of acceleration. We often feel that we must be doing something constantly to be of value. This is a flawed concept and one that will eventually cause you to crash. So slow down, find time for private reflection, meditation and prayer. Unplug and unwind. What is stressing you today will make no difference to anyone a hundred years from now. So be gentle with yourself.
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