How to Deal with Chronic Stress

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Our bodies are a miracle. We have ancient mechanisms that can detect threats to our survival. One of the reasons humans have survived is our 'fight or flight' response to danger. When a threat is detected, hormones are released into the body to prepare us to react.

But this is a problem in our modern world. Our ancient brains can not distinguish between real and unreal threats. Our bodies are reacting to perceived threats all the time.

So, we can suffer from chronic stress from work and daily worries. This can lead to chronic elevated cortisol levels. This leads to weight gain especially around the abdomen. So, reducing your daily stress can help you reduce your waistline.
 
Here's some stress management techniques to help you reduce your stress:
 
REDUCE YOUR SCREEN TIME ON ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Your primitive brain has difficulty determining if a threat is real or perceived. So, violent movies, video games or agitating social media and T as a threat to your body. Whenever possible, leave your cell phone behind. Or at least turn it off.

TAKE A BREAK

• Get up every hour or two for a quick stretch and walk around the office or work site.
• Take lunch away from your work area. Take the time to enjoy a healthy meal and relax your mind.
• Take a full day off each week. Take this day to rest, reflect and recharge.

USE THE POWER OF BREATH

• Deep breathing is a great way of engaging the parasympathetic nervous system. You can do deep breathing anywhere and anytime.
  
• Use meditative forms of exercise like yoga or Tai Chi. They also use breathwork to help with focus.
  
• Find a chiropractor who uses Somato Respiratory Integration (SRI). SRI is a re-organizational healing modality which releases stress. This disrupts defense patterns in the nervous system and body.

WATCH WHAT YOU PUT IN YOUR MOUTH

• Avoid all artificial stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, chocolate and energy drinks. They artificially give you energy which triggers an adrenaline and cortisol release.
  
• An anti-inflammatory diet is the best way to combat stress from the inside out. So, what’s an anti-inflammatory diet? It is EXACTLY the unprocessed way of eating that I promote in my book and on this website. A whole food plant-based diet focusing on vegetables, fruit, whole grains and legumes.

BRING SOME NATURE INTO YOUR HOME

• Pets are great stress relievers. Petting your dog or cat with all that unconditional love helps to lower your stress.
  
• House plants add oxygen to your home. Aloe Vera is particularly good for producing oxygen so keep an Aloe Vera plant in your bedroom.
  
• Salt lamps and desk-top waterfalls help to relieve stress as well.

WATER THERAPY

• Dehydration puts stress on the body so drink your water.
  
• Taking a bath with Epsom salts relaxes muscles and relieves stress.
  
• Swimming in natural water sources connects you to the earth. It also gives you some aerobic exercise.

BRING BACK SOME CHILDHOOD FAVORITES

• Play board games, do jigsaw puzzles, or word games.
  
• Read books or comics strictly for entertainment.
  
• Try the latest thing. Adult coloring or mandalas. Taking the time to do something mindless which doesn’t involve a screen can be quite relaxing.

CONNECT WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL SELF

• Meditate, chant or pray. Whatever resonates with your spiritual beliefs. The benefits of a spiritual connection can lead to a more centered and grounded spirit.
  
• Speaking of grounded, connect with the earth. Walking on grass or on a beach with bare feet can help to give you the reconnection with the earth which we all need. Even walking around the house with bare feet can help.
  
• Also, guided meditations can help you decompress. You can find lots of guided meditations on YouTube.

GET PHYSICAL

Sweaty exercise or physical work, especially outdoors, are the perfect stress busters. This type of movement tires out the big muscles in the body naturally. You are letting your body do the work and it gives your brain a much-needed break from the stresses of the day. You get to work out your aggravations in a healthy way.

GET SOME SLEEP

Getting enough sleep is by far the most effective stress-management technique. The average adult needs 6-8 hours of restorative sleep every night. People that suffer from chronically elevated cortisol usually have trouble sleeping. But if you implement as many of my strategies for reducing stress as you can, you will sleep like a baby. Here’s to a great night’s sleep.

The more of these you can incorporate into your life, the better you will feel. This is a long game to battle chronic stress and requires a lifestyle change. Some fun and easy tweaking to your daily life could save your life. So, get out of your head and back into your body. We’ve only got one body to carry us through this journey so take care of it.