Reduce Stress Naturally

Stress is an issue for everyone. Stress related illness is on the rise. The Centers for Disease

Control estimates that 75-90% of trips to the doctor’s office are stress related. Scientific studies began by Hans Selye in the 1930s showed that all creatures react to outside stressors in very predictable ways. Symptoms or reactions to stress may be physical, mental, and behavioral. Some common stress symptoms are; increased heart rate, shallow breathing, headaches, tiredness, muscle tension, worry, irritability, loss of confidence, and feeling overwhelmed. If left unchecked, daily stress can do physical damage that can last a lifetime. Everyone faces problems and to move away from the problem toward the solution you cannot stay in the same place of thinking or behaviors that created the situation. Try changing just one thing, find what works for you. Start creating an environment to sustain your health and wellbeing.

Tackle one thing at a time:

 Some people are extreme multi-taskers. Perhaps you are one of them. It is simple to say, the more you have going on, the more stress you have. I am not going to tell you to delegate or take items off your to-do list. Sometimes it is just not possible to take items off your plate, but you can make your list more manageable. First, get organized and find a system that works for you. When you have multiple projects, break those projects into smaller more manageable tasks and tackle a little of each project every day. Set boundaries that will work for you. Do you feel the stress rising when the clock is ticking on a project and the phone just keeps ringing? When facing a deadline take control of the interruptions by turning off the cell phone. If the call is important, the caller will leave a voice mail. Be aware that you have limits and remind yourself that there is not enough time to do everything. As long as you are taking steps toward your goal, you are heading in the right direction. In stressful times, hiring a life coach can be a great asset. A coach partners with you as you move toward your goal. Having a coach partner with you as you work through a project, can give you new insight to solutions, and help keep you focused.

Meditate:

  Hans Seyle found that only human beings are able to provoke stress reactions by their own thoughts alone. Meditation is a way to put our problems and stressors on a shelf for a short time and quiet our mind. A quiet mind allows a new perspective on the day. Our brain will have the chance to recharge and refocus. Five minutes is all you need. There are many breath awareness meditations on the web. Try this one to get started

Exercise:

When the deadline is looming and the project is not complete, the difficult thing to do is walk away for a time. However, that is exactly what you should do. Take a walk. Regular exercise increases mental and physical tolerance to stressful situations. Exercise has been shown to improve sleep, concentration, and feeling of wellbeing. Theories are that the increased oxygen to the brain lowers anxiety, endorphins release that give a feeling of wellbeing, and while concentrating on the exercise we stop thinking about our worries. Walking just 30 minutes a day can have a positive effect.

 Nutrition and Supplements:

Some people try to relieve tension and stress by overeating or consuming alcohol. This behavior actually increases stress and health risks. Stress-driven eating can lead to unhealthy weight gain, which leads to additional health risk factors. Alcohol consumption puts additional stress on our immune system and brain cells.

A healthy diet and supplement routine goes a long way to help protect us from the damaging effects of stress. A good multi-vitamin, B, and C Complex and Omega 3 supplement should be part of the every day routine. Many people try to ease stress with herbal supplements, especially the herbal supplement kava. Kava can produce unwanted drowsiness, and on March 25, 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers of the potential risk of severe liver injury associated with the use of kava-containing dietary supplements. The only stress relief supplement I have found to promote quickly relaxation along with enhancing the body’s ability to adapt to stress while promoting long-term health is the Shaklee Stress Relief Complex. It has a unique blend of premium ingredients that support a calm, relaxed state without drowsiness during times of everyday stress, while promoting alertness This blend of natural ingredients helps blunt cortisol, a hormone produced during stress that affects long-term health.. It has a proven safety record. With clinically studied and traditionally used ingredients Stress Relief Complex combines the best of nature and science. All Shaklee vitamins and herbal supplements are manufactured to pharmaceutical standards. That is why with Shaklee products you can count on consistent potency in every tablet and absolutely no contamination from pesticides, herbicides or any toxic material.

Next time you feel the stress reactions start, take a step back, and try doing one thing differently. By using one of these simple strategies, you can, improve your mood, increase your energy and be ready for the rest of your day.