12 Ways to Stay on Top of Stress

Post by ar » Jan 10, 2009 Views: 3156

[JUSTIFY]It takes a million years for one gene to change inour bodies. One million years! I'm bringing this up because,physiologically, we're the same humans we were 300 years ago. But lookat how things have changed in that short time. Some things make lifeeasier now: washers and dryers, transportation, abundance of food,electricity, etc. But some things make life today more insane: cellphones, traffic, increased population, fake food, TV, busy schedules. Iheard a statistic from a doctor-friend that we make more decisions inone day than people used to make in a year. No wonder we're stressedout and reaching for doughnuts or alcohol to cope.

All thiscraziness and high-speed living isn't going away. Since we can't changeour genes, we have to create a map to navigate this crazy life. Whatcan you do to try and stay on top of the stress so it doesn't affectyour health, happiness, or waistline?

1. Exercise.Amen for endorphins. Believe me, they've helped me many days with myperspective. If you have to work out, then go take a brisk walk and getthat blood flowing. It isn't about working out to lose weight -- it'sabout being healthy and staying sane.

2. Eat the real stuff.Crappy food (fast, processed, and loaded with sugar) doesn't help yourchemical brain and body handle stress. Living food, real food, helpssupport your mind and body while it's trying to deal with the millionthings coming its way. Every time I reach for the chocolate, I'mlooking to feel something from it. Don't get me wrong -- if it's just alittle here and there because I enjoy the taste of it, great. But ifI'm using it the minute I feel overwhelmed, then that's when that foodis no longer OK to eat. It doesn't make the problem go away, and then Ijust feel bad about eating the food to pacify myself. Grab green foodinstead. Put things in your mouth that are going to support your immunefunction and keep you levelheaded.

3. Notice.Try not to let the stress overtake you. Recognize the situations thatcause the stress and notice them coming your way. You have a bettershot at fending off the full effects of the stress when you cananticipate it.

4. Get it off your chest. Talk to a friend or partner about the stress. Sometimes just getting it off your chest can help unload some of the burden.

[/JUSTIFY]
 [JUSTIFY]5. Keep your sense of humor.If you do have the chance to talk about it, try to see the irony andhumor in the wacky bits. I think someone is dead in the water once theylose their sense of humor.

6. Stay grateful. Mydaughter has large lungs and verbal skills she likes to display. Justwhen I start to wishfully think about her being quiet, I remind myselfto be grateful that she can talk to me at all. In almost all of ourproblems are boatloads of blessings. "Oh, I don't feel like going tothe gym." Well, Amen that you have the means and the health to even beable to wrestle with the idea of going to work out. Make a habit ofsaying thank you. You will notice the sunny spots a lot more often, andnot just the gray skies and storms.

7. Ask, "What's the hurry?" Have some fun.We're always so busy going somewhere, we miss just enjoying the moment.If an opportunity comes your way to do something fun, take it.

8. Take a deep breath.When you feel the stress getting to you, take a moment. Get away, evenif it's just for an hour, to be with yourself and your thoughts. Somepeople like to take a walk, meditate, lock themselves away in abeautiful bath, or go to church. Find the peace and the silence.

9. Keep it simple.Simplify where you can. Does Junior really need to be in 78 activitiesat the age of 5? Do you have to go to every little party or gatheringyou're invited to?

10. Turn of the TV. A lot ofit is bad news anyway, and it robs us of hours that we could use to begetting other things done. Since everyone complains that they have notime, get some by unplugging from the tube.

11. Sleep.If you're rested, you have a better shot at handling things. Not tomention, you may not stress out as easily if you have a chance torecover at night.

12. Drink water. I have saidit before: Americans consume 21 percent of their calories throughliquid consumption. Hydrate with water. Help you entire system functionbetter just by drinking enough water. Oh, and by the way, if you don'tthink that weight loss and proper hydration have a relationship, thinkagain. Shift the paradigm on its side -- don't think about exercise andnutritional eating just as something you have to suffer through to getinto those jeans. Instead, think of them as armor that will protect youin this crazy world, with all of the bazillion details you deal withevery day. [/JUSTIFY]

Post by **editorawais** » Jan 10, 2009

Very nice

Post by ar » Jan 10, 2009

Thanks