Stress, stress, stress…..you hear so much about it now. It is definitely one of the major causes of disease in our society at this point in time. And, it's prevalent in all walks of life, even at home. The news is always feeding you bad news and things you need to worry about. Like we don't have enough to worry about in our everyday life already, right?
But, if you can't escape the stressful life, and of course, most of us can't, there are easy steps you can take to help alleviate the stress…and that can help you save your life long term, as well as helping you deal with the daily struggle better.
First of all, Breathe….literally, take a breath. If you can step aside for a minute, take a few breaths. Even if you have no time, you can consciously Take A Breath and then blow out the stress. Say it to yourself as you breathe in and then Exhale with a loud sigh if that's all the time you have. It really does help.
Take a brisk walk. I know, most of us are running all day long, and it doesn't seem like we need to take more steps. But a brisk walk, and outdoors is the best. If you can get around some trees and breathe in the outdoors air, try to notice what's happening. Be present with your walk. This can do wonders for your attitude as well.
Let go! This is real hard one for so many of us. But letting go of the things you cannot change is a great way to relieve your stress. You are stressing about things over which you have no control in so many instances and learning to let go will help you more than you can imagine.
Check your posture….there are apps for this. When you are stressing, your body tenses up and creates cramping and all kinds of bad chemicals running through your body. I know that my shoulders can end up close to my ears as my stress levels rise. I have to tell myself to bring my shoulders back down where they belong. Tell yourself to relax those tense muscles, wherever they may be.
Remember the big picture. Yep, that's right, remember the big picture. There will be an end to this shift. There will be an end to this day….and the sun will come up again tomorrow. Smile!
Mary Crawford, HealthCare Employment Network
