On a level of 1 to 10 where 10 is highest, how stressed are you right now? Make a note and check in over the next week to monitor your stress level.
Most of us experience stress from time to time and it is a normal event which has its places. But what about the long term effects?
The fight or flight response is designed for short term emergencies. It hasn’t evolved since the days we needed to run away from wild animals! It doesn’t even distinguish between real and perceived events! When the stress response is constantly in active due to high levels of stress, we become familiar with stress hormones and body chemistry preparing us to fight, flight or flee. It becomes our normal. And the familiarity may mean we are more likely to subconsciously search for stressful situations and drama, when life begins to be calm.
Long term activation of the stress response can cause health problems including disrupted sleep, raised blood pressure, obesity, suppressed immune system, and increased risk of heart attack, stroke, anxiety and depression.
Here are 5 simple ways to reduce stress:
Focus on your breath – as few as 3 conscious breaths can completely change the way you feel.
Connect with nature. Open a window, go for a walk, have plants in your work space and home.
Yoga helps reduce stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol and stimulates the production of endorphins, the feel good chemicals in the brain.
Let meditation wipe away the day’s stress, just 5 minutes can bring inner peace.
We think the causes of stress are outside our control. What if we decide that it’s okay not to be okay? This leaves us free to focus on making positive changes.
