Stressed Out?

There’s never enough time. I have so much to do. Where did all the time go? Try as I might to make the most of each day, I still feel like there’s never enough time.

Do you feel like this sometimes? Or all the time?

In this day and age, we make so many excuses for ourselves. We trick ourselves into thinking it’s okay to feel stressed, to be so tightly wound that we snap at our loved ones, to run ourselves ragged all over town.

What we need to do is take a step back and slow down.

Stress can be a positive thing; however, most of the time the stress we feel is detrimental to our health and contributes to the aging process. Here are some tell-tale signs that you are stressed:

Physical:

• Stick out your tongue. If you have a prominent line down the middle of your tongue, chances are you are harboring stress.

• Look at your forehead. Horizontal wrinkles can represent repressed worries and anxiety.

• Locking your jaw and grinding your teeth are both tell-tale signs of stress.

Emotional:

Here’s where stress can vary by individual: Everyone deals with stress in different ways. The unhealthiest way to deal with stress is to suppress it. We store anger in the liver and our emotions manifest physically in our bodies.

The best thing to do if you suspect stress as a common theme in your life is to figure out how to manage it in a healthy manner. Here are some options:

• Express your emotions by talking out how you feel with others close to you. Explain how stressed you have been feeling and that you would appreciate their support.

• Breathing exercises or meditation are great ways to calm down. One breathing exercise I practice regularly involves inhaling through the nose for 4 counts, holding that breath for 5 counts and exhaling through your mouth for 6 counts, forcing all the air out.

• Employ thought-stopping. Whenever a negative or unrealistic though pops into your head, stop, change that thought around to the positive. Repeat and move on.

Diet:

• Foods rich in essential fatty acids support the brain, nervous system, and the heart, and can help to cut our stress levels. These types of fats—like avocados, olive oil, nuts/seeds, and flaxseed—are good for your physical and mental health.

• Although it is easy to stop at a fast-food restaurant when out and about, consider packing whole foods like apples, baby carrots, and a mix of nuts when you’re on the go.

• When we are stressed and busy, it’s easy and convenient to fuel the body with coffee. The problem with excess amounts of coffee (more than 2 cups) is that it overstresses bodily systems. Reach for green tea instead, since it contains less caffeine and is rich in antioxidants, which boost the immune system.

Whatever your daily stresses, aim to pinpoint which ones they are. Then implement stress management techniques that work for you.

Erin