We Manage Everything Else, Why Not Our Stress, Too?

By Donna Kostiew

Stress seems to be just another component to our daily lives. It’s as common as our morning cup of coffee, which is kind of funny because many people find that if they don’t get that cup of coffee, their stress levels rise. We have good stress, bad stress, and the kind of prolonged stress that if not taken care of properly, can become deadly. The oppressive weight of stress takes its toll on our bodies and minds and can ruin our physical, mental and emotional health.

We could all use a little help coming to terms and figuring out how to handle the stress in our lives. Here are some simple strategies to help you overcome it and get you back on track to health and wellness:

• Take a walk – There are so many benefits to a good walk, one being that you are moving, so your body is releasing endorphins which are known to relieve pain, reduce stress, and increase happiness. Not only are you outside getting some exercise, but you are also able to relax or escape the world for a bit. This can help restore your body and bring some calm and clarity to your day.
• Talk to someone - Holding onto stress and keeping it to ourselves can be very damaging to our health and spirit. Stress can cloud our judgement and change the perceptions we have in certain circumstances. Talking things through with a trusted friend, family member, or professional is a perfect start to releasing the clutch that stress has on you and to finding some possible solutions that will work in your situation.
• Manage your time - Stress doesn’t have nearly as much power over you if you learn to manage your time better. Create to-do lists that are reasonable. If you have to start off with smaller tasks on a smaller list, then do so. But whatever you do, make sure that it is realistic, manageable, and makes sense to how you go about your day. Remember to include extra “buffer” times for those unexpected emergencies and don’t forget about scheduling time for yourself and your own well-being.
• Learn to say no – One of the biggest causes of stress is that we spread ourselves too thin. We are constantly staying busy simply for the sake of staying busy. By learning to say no, you can reduce your stress because there will be fewer commitments and responsibilities to deal with, and more time to focus on what is really important in your life.
• Get more sleep – Try adding in some extra time for sleep in your day, whether it’s an extra hour or so during the night, or a small nap in the afternoon. This can be hard because usually stress interrupts our sleep but do what you can to give your brain some time to calm down.

To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lakewood, Colo.