Busy and stressed out has become the new norm.
A little bit of stress doesn’t hurt – in fact, in some cases it can help. But the chronic stress that many of us are experiencing today is not all in your head. Long-term stress can have some massive impacts on health.
WHY IS STRESS SUCH A PROBLEM?
It can be easy to just think stress is a problem for your mind. And it definitely is – chronic stress can impair your cognitive function. But stress is not just in the mind.
When we’re stressed, we produce stress hormones in the adrenal glands. These hormones then move throughout the body, preparing it for a life-or-death situation. Your body slows down or ceases non-vital functions including digestion and detoxification. All of the blood will head to your muscles so you can run away from danger.
Short-term, this might not be an issue. But imagine if your digestion and detoxification are slowed down over a long period of time. All of a sudden, you won’t be absorbing nutrients from food, and you won’t be detoxifying problematic substances in the body. This is why stress can be directly linked to many chronic diseases.
HOW TO RELIEVE STRESS NATURALLY
Stress over the long-term is bad for you. But the good news is, there are plenty of ways to relieve stress that don’t need a lot of time or effort. These are some of my favourite ways to let go of stress.
✔️ DO SOME LIGHT EXERCISE
When you move your body, you produce feel-good chemicals and hormones that can help relieve stress. But you don’t have to go hard at it – even a walk around the block or a game of tiggy with the kids is enough to work off some stress.
✔️ WATCH SOME TRASHY TV
I love watching the Comedy Channel when I’m stressed out. Any show that makes you laugh is a must-have when you’re feeling stressed. When we laugh, we release those feel-good chemicals and reduce stress hormone levels. So don’t feel guilty for watching trashy reality TV or comedy shows – it’s good for you!
✔️ BORROW A FRIEND’S PET
Animals are some of the best friends you can have when stress hits. Their unconditional love can make all the difference, especially if you feel alone. Pets are the masters of living in the moment. And who doesn’t feel better after cuddling or petting a dog? If you don’t have your own, I highly recommend pet-sitting a friend’s pet.
✔️ ENJOY A CUP OF TEA WITH A BOOK CHAPTER OR TWO
Tea of any kind can help to calm the nervous system and help you unwind. A good book is a great way to take your attention away from the things that stress you. Combining the two is a simple way to relieve stress. Close the door and lose yourself in a book – even if you can only read for 10 minutes!
✔️ ASK FOR HELP
It’s easy for us to feel like we have to do it all. But often stress is because we take on more than we can handle. There is nothing wrong with asking for a bit of help. Your partner, your friends and even your children are more likely to help if you ask and let them know why you need it.
✔️ LISTEN TO YOUR FAVOURITE SONGS
This is so simple, but so powerful. Feel-good music can change your mood in just a couple of minutes. Whether it’s in the car or with your earphones as you go about your chores, a feel-good playlist can help bust those stressed-out thoughts. A dance party is optional, but encouraged.
✔️ MEDITATE
Meditation might seem too hard to do, but it’s not as bad as you think, I promise! The goal of meditation is not to stop thinking, but to detach from the thoughts and observe them. If you’re new to meditation, download an app with short guided meditations. Once you get used to it, meditation can take you from stressed out to calm in just 10 minutes.
✔️ HAVE A GOOD NIGHT OF SLEEP
Sleep is not just about feeling less tired. During sleep, the body focuses on repairing damage and the brain detoxifies the build-up from the daytime. Lack or bad night of sleep increases the stress in the body.
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