Not all stress is bad. The good type motivates us and keeps us going. However, nowadays, most of the stress we deal with is chronic, which can lead to an array of health issues. Since our bodies were not designed to deal with these heavy feelings for extended periods of time, it is important to recognize them as soon as they get triggered and nip them in a bud.
Here are some easy to implement actions:
Calm your emotions with breathing exercises. Next time you feel on edge, sit down, close your eyes, and focus on long and steady diaphragmatic breathing. Inhale all the way in expanding your belly, and exhale all the way out. Make sure not to rush the process.
Use the power of visualization. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and imagine a situation you would like to manifest. Notice every element. Feel it as if it is happening. Get excited. Doing this for just 10 minutes a day will enable you to vibrate higher, and all of the sudden, those little things which have been bringing you down, will not seem as important and permanent anymore.
Hug it out. When we are stressed out, our bodies release cortisol which can lead to issues such as anxiety, depression, weight and sleep problems just to name a few. Oxytocin, aka “the love hormone” can counteract the negative effects of elevated cortisol levels. It can lower the feelings of stress and anxiety and put you in a state of relaxation and calmness. Hugging it out for as little as 20 seconds has been found to release oxytocin which is also known as the “cuddle hormone” for this very reason.
Pay attention to your lifestyle choices. Make sure you get plenty of sleep. The general recommendation is 7 to 9 hours a night. Eat a plant forward diet, focusing on foods containing tryptophan, an essential amino acid important for the production of serotonin and responsible for many brain functions. And of course, do not forget to move. If gym is not your thing, that is absolutely fine. Focus on sprinkling movement throughout each day: go for a walk, garden, take the stairs instead of an elevator, park further away from the store, or even better, bike to the store.
Take care of your microbiome. The bacteria in your gut are responsible for your emotional health and stress dealing abilities. You can support your gut flora by taking probiotics, particularly strains including Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium Bifidum, and Lactobacillus Helveticus.
At the end of the day, it is important to just go back to the basics. Do things that bring you joy, and pay attention to the positive things happening in your life. Let go of the past. Stop stressing about the future. Just be present in this very moment, because as far as you know, the next moment might never come.
