What to Do When Stress Keeps Tripping You
By Sandy Schroeder
When life gets complicated, inevitably stress builds. We all know this, but we may feel even more pressure than usual in a world that has become incredibly upsetting and chaotic.
Most of us are used to daily challenges, but now those tasks seem to have multiplied. As we struggle to keep going to protect our family, jobs and homes, it's very easy to become frazzled with one stressful situation after another.
That amount of stress can become chronic, creating sleeplessness, impacting the immune and digestive systems, targeting the heart, and reducing our hand-on effectiveness.
However, there are some very good tools that can help us get a grip on stress and help us maintain control of our lives and MindBodyGreen.com suggests we use them now. See what you think of these.
Exercise all of your options - Movement can do amazing things for the mind and the body. When you head out for a run, or spend an hour working out, exercise will produce endorphins, the brain chemicals that make us feel good. Tension drops back, moods lift, sleep improves and confidence blooms. Put all of that together and you may feel a lot less stressed. Keep that up as much as you can every day and you should see a difference. Exercise may go a long way to keep you emotionally strong.
Use meditation to regain your balance - Mindful meditation in the morning and the evening can help you control stress hormones in the body and avoid chronic inflammation that can lead to heart or liver disease and depression. Consider what meditation might do for you in simple quiet moments, thoughtful walks or brief escapes with music.
Let yoga ease your mind and your body - Short yoga sessions in the morning and in the evening can quiet stress and stimulate everything that you do. Toning the body, improving balance, and providing an outlet for tension may all come together to make you feel better and be better. Yoga can regulate nerve impulses, lower stress levels and boost overall health.
Discover the magic of tea - Researchers studied the stress reduction qualities of drinking black tea four times a day for six weeks. They found tea drinkers reduced stress hormone levels and were able to spring back from stress more quickly. As always, check with your doctor when you make changes to your diet in teas and other beverages. Here are some more therapeutic teas to try.
- Chamomile
- Ginseng
- Peppermint
- Lemon Balm
- Lavender
- Turmeric
Take charge of caffeine - Many of us count on caffeine to propel us along through our daily tasks, but too much caffeine can make us jittery and keep us up at night. Use it to start your morning, and consider shutting it down after lunch to rest better at night.
If these stress tools work for you, keep using them and look for more. The less stress the better.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Euless, Tex.