Effects of Stress – My Top Tips to De-stress!
Karen Morris
A lot of my patients struggle with the effects of stress, from upset stomachs to fatigue, brain fog and anxiety, stress is simply not something that anybody should let slide.
It’s normal to have ups and downs, that’s a part of life. When you get through a set of problems there will be a period of smooth sailing, then some more bumps will pop up because life likes to keep us on our toes! The thing is, a lot of the time the reason why we’re so stressed is because our minds make the process of dealing with challenges ten times harder for us. Too many people are trying to juggle it all and at the same time deal with a mind that’s barking thoughts of self-doubt which causes anxiety to fester, second guessing of one’s ability and the insurmountable urges to just getaway!! Do you relate to any of this?
Weekend getaways are great, but if you’re feeling like you need a holiday (or a session with a psychologist!) by the end of every week then it’s time to really take a step back and think about how much is on your plate. As part of my work providing naturopathic, homeopathic and nutrition consults, I do a lot of work with my clients in stress management. From ensuring they get the right supplements and herbs like my Adrenal Fatigue Tonic – Liquid Herbal Extract to putting together a de-stress plan involving daily meditation and affirmations, stress is something I truly believe needs to be managed and reduced in order to create a healthy body, mind and life.
Meditation is a powerful way to de-stress. Meditation will ground your energy and improve your mind’s ability to remain focused. The thing with meditation is that you really need to do it everyday for maximum results. Commit to a daily practice and if you can, get up 1 hour earlier. Before you start, grab a pen and paper and write out your intention for the meditation session – what problem do you need help with, and who is the person you are becoming that can deal with it? A powerful meditation tool is to listen to some Binaural Beats music as you meditate, this helps your mind stay focused and quiet.
Another helpful tip to de-stressing is to quit caffeine. Caffeine really does impact the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response) which can make you more prone to anxiety and anxious reactions.
Reduce alcohol. Take a break from alcohol and watch how much clearer your mind becomes!
Be cautious of your body language. For an instant confidence boost, ground your feet into the earth, breathe into the lowest part of your abdomen and hold back your shoulders.
Exercise! Sweat out the stress. Hard cardiovascular workouts like a good HIIT session or long run have been proven to help burn cortisol in the body, so a good session at the gym will always help you de-stress.
As always, please feel free to get in touch with me via the www.herbsonlineshop.com contact page and if you’re not already, why not follow the @herbsonlineshop Instagram account and Facebook page (including the 30 Day Challenge Group page!). I post daily about my clinic, my top health tips and information about custom herbs and supplements, just for you!