STRESS. Seeing that word even makes me feel the effect of it, and I cringe. Sometimes I get so angry at stress because I feel as if it is controlling me, and I don’t know how to let it go. What makes me even more frustrated is when I don’t feel like I’m stressed, but internally I am and my body gets hit with the repercussions of it. Do you ever feel that way? You tell yourself over and over again, “I’m not stressed. I’m fine. Everything is good.” Yet, deep down, you know something is going on because you’re not sleeping well, you’re moody, or your body is holding onto that extra weight even though you’ve tried so hard to be extra healthy.
Well, I’m just going to be honest with you. I don’t have it all together, and I’m not going to pretend like I do. Who really does? I’ve been extremely stressed lately. There is a lot on my plate at the moment, and I just can’t seem to find time to get it all done. What I’m learning is that while all the good things in our lives are wonderful, too much of anything can be bad. You’re probably thinking, “She’s just now learning this?” I feel like this is something that some of us will always battle…the challenge of simplifying our lives when the world around us tells us the complete opposite. Even though we justify our activities/commitments because they are “good,” it’s imperative for our health and our sanity to practice the magic word, “no.”
Maybe these harmful effects of stress will motivate you to find ways to de-stress:
- Weakened immune system
- Weight gain
- Acne or other dermatological issues
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Cancer
- Insomnia
- Back/neck problems
- Heart disease
- Stomach ulcers
- Migraines
- Fertility problems
- Diabetes
- Hair loss
- Hyperthyroidism
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Chronic inflammation
- And More!
How do I deal with stress? As I said earlier, I’m slowly learning how to say, “no.” I also spend much time in prayer and meditation. Getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night is another goal of mine. Finally, bikram yoga has been great in helping me de-stress. A study performed by Boston researchers concluded that people who practice yoga 3 times a week report better mood and lower anxiety compared with people who walked the same amount of time. Of course, ANY exercise is beneficial to help you beat stress.
What about YOU? What are some things that you can cut out so that you’ll be less stressed? And what methods do you use to de-stress?
