Stress Management Tips

Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction our bodies employ in order to deal with the daily demands of life.  While some levels of stress are necessary to keep us on track to accomplish our goals, too much can be detrimental to our overall mental and physiological health.In identifying the causes of stress, our brain and bodies come hard-wired with a neurological stress highway that serves to power an internal, protective ‘alarm system’.  When we perceive a threat or identify a potentially harmful situation, this pathway signals our bodies to release a burst of hormones known as catecholamines, such as adrenaline, to fuel a unique response. This reaction is commonly referred to as the “fight-or-flight” response.

According to the Mayo Clinic, current studies suggest most Americans experience challenges with stress at some point during the year.  More so, the nonstop pressures of today’s fast pace environment means our stress highways are constantly overloaded, running at a ‘rush-hour’ pace.

That is why stress management is so important in maintaining normalcy within our lives. Stress management gives us set of tools or road-blocks for the traffic of stress on our neurological highway.  Without stress management our bodies are constantly bombarded by these stress traffic alerts, which over time can lead to serious health issues.

Here are a few techniques and things to consider to better deal with stress:

1st, Decided to make a change in how you deal with and manage stress.2nd, Identify the causes or triggers of stress in your life. Some of theses causes may be  obvious (such as relationship issues, school, work or financial distress), while others may take more thought.

3rd, Relax- relaxation techniques can help you to focus your attention on enjoying life instead of dreading it.  Exercises like writing, yoga, walking, hiking or other sports can help you to focus on enjoying the moment, instead of stressing about the future.

4th- Eat Healthy – Healthy eating plays a crucial role in our bodies ability to deal with high levels of stress. The eating the right proportion and amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals is important in maintaining our energy, mental concentration, and emotional stability. Even more important, stress can weaken our immune systems and increase the demand for certain nutrients. Eating a well-balanced diet will help you to stay focused, alert and healthy during times of increased stress.

5th- Sleep – Sleep loss may result in irritability, an inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can leave you too tired to do the things you truly enjoy.  The CDC recommends 7-9 hours of sleep in adults to prevent chronic disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression.