Is Stress Getting You Down?

We live in a very busy society. There are demands on us from work to perform well. Our families are demanding to help get the children’s homework done, cleaning the house, making dinner, laundry, opening the mail, and our ever favorite paying the bills. These demands build up on each and every one of us and sooner or later stress becomes an obvious character of our lifestyle. Our ability to concentrate decreases, our energy drops, and our sleep lessens with each day. If we can’t learn how to control stress it could start affecting our life in undesirable effects towards our health. What can we do to make life more live-able and more likeable? Believe it our not, our diet can have a major impact on stress. If we eat correctly, we take in all the nutrients or tools our body needs to function, we will be able to handle the stress easier. Just remember that in times of stress, our bodies actually use more micronutrients than normal.

First thing to do is to increase fruits and vegetables. I know you hear this all the time but they are loaded with nutrients for us. Very the colors of the foods you eat. Besides a beautiful plate of food you will have a wider variety of the nutrients in turn. Remember that fresh foods are better than frozen, and frozen are much better than canned which should be avoided with the exception only to tomatoes. Whole grains are always better than refined grains. Eat more lean meats like turkey or chicken. Use oils that are monounsaturated like olive or canola oil.

If we give our bodies the tools it needs to function everyday, we won’t feel the need to add false band-aids for energy everyday. Decrease coffee, soda, and sugars. Yes, they give us some energy but it is most definitely short term. Too much caffeine or refined sugar can make it harder to concentrate, make us irritable, or even give us headaches.

Adding a simple multivitamin and mineral supplement adds to our diet everything that we missed by foods. A good B complex is also needed of its central role in energy production.

Let’s add in some exercise. Did you know that people who exercise regularly are less likely to have depression, tension, and fatigue? Take the dog out for a walk. For one, the dog will love to get out and two, it makes exercise seem less like work and more fun. Take the kids out for a walk. It could be a beautiful time for some one on one. If the weather is bad, why not use the malls?

Give yourself some alone time. Nothing is better than a little meditation. It will give you focus, relaxation, and a positive mental attitude. A simple five to ten minute meditation will calm the mind and body. Find a quiet space and sit while putting one hand on your belly button and the other on your chest. Close your eyes and breathe in though your nose and out your mouth. Concentrate on your breathing and breathe in to the count of 4, pause, and breathe out to the count of 4. As you breathe, think of each body part relaxing from your toes, your feet, your ankles, your legs, and so on. Imagine all stress and tension leaving your body. When you have completed all areas of the body and feel relaxed, you have done your job.

Finally, get some rest. Make sure that you give yourself the time needed to get enough sleep and feel rested. Set priorities and remember that rest is one of them. When you go to bed, shut the TV off. SWEET DREAMS!!!