Whether you are a yoga instructor or an air traffic controller, you can’t eliminate stress completely from your life. Stress triggers your body’s fight or flight response; your adrenaline starts pumping, your heart beats faster and blood pressure soars. This internal circus is fine in small doses. However, long-term exposure to powerful stress hormones put you at risk for other health problems, including anxiety, depression, heart disease, weight gain and memory issues. Here are a few ideas that can help you zap stress in its tracks.
- Declutter Your House, Declutter Your Mind
When you are emotionally drained, organizing your surroundings can help organize the clutter in your mind. Start with a small project that is tangible or visible. Try cleaning the kitchen junk drawer NOT the entire garage! - Stop Multi-tasking
Instead, try doing only one mindful thing at a time. Consider hoping on the exercise bike without listening to music or watching television. And in general, resist the urge to constantly check text messages or emails. - Just Say No!
If you know that spending time with a certain person habitually makes you tense up, then simply decline the invitation. If you can’t, figure out a way to limit your time with that person. - Goof Off
Remember, sometimes it’s OK to do nothing. Sit in a chair and watch the autumn leaves fall or give your pet some love!