If you're struggling while going through a stressful time in your life, then the best advice is this: You’ve gotta focus on the BIG 3:
-Eating Healthy
-Exercise
-Enough Sleep
Yes, you see these three all the time, and for good reason. These three habits are the cornerstone to a happy, healthy life and their impact on stress can be significant.
Eating a diet full of fresh, whole foods helps the body combat stress naturally. And if you’re going through a particularly stressful time, it’s wise to try and avoid all your favorite stimulants like caffeine, alcohol and nicotine which tend to amplify stress, make it hard to sleep sleep and worsen the many effects stress has on our bodies.
Exercise actually lowers blood pressure and is one of the healthiest ways to beat stress. Rhythmic exercise like walking, jogging, and swimming has proven to be the best for controlling stress, so aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity, at least five days a week.
Ever heard about sleep deprivation being used as torture? That’s because not getting the proper amount of sleep makes it even more difficult to deal with stressful situations and in fact, can increase both anxiety and depression. Make it a habit to turn off all electronic devices (phones and anything with a screen) at least 30 minutes prior to going to bed. Get committed to establishing a good, wind-down nighttime ritual, such as reading or meditating. Try this for 5 days, and soon your routine will teach your mind that it’s time to relax and sleep.
If you’ve tried some or all of these coping tactics, and you just can’t get anxiety, depression and stress under control, then please give us a call. We can help point you in the right direction, make sure what you’re feeling isn’t related to a medical condition, and remember, that we have a counseling office inside our building as well. Don’t hesitate to reach out and let us help!
Here are other links to help you learn how to ease stress:
WebMD: Ways to Avoid Stress Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coping with Stress Healthfinder.gov: Manage Stress
Comments