Stress can suck….
…the life right out of you. Uncomfortable sensations, hormonal imbalances, anxiety, depression, mood swings, raised blood sugars; poor sleep, digestion, and immunity...
Unmanaged stress = life-sucking destruction.
What’s the best way to manage stress then? Practice caring.
Caring Practice #1. Nourish your body - daily.
Seeking comfort foods can feel comforting in a moment, but they can make a hurtful, lasting impact. Make water your primary choice and keep your caffeine intake under 300mg/day (~3 cups of coffee). Choose packaged foods carefully. Include protein, carbohydrates and fat with every meal and snack.
Caring Practice #2. Pause.
It can feel impossible at times, especially when adrenaline and cortisol are charging through you, but wonderful things can happen when you choose to take a pause.
Start by taking a single breath.
“Quiet the mind and the soul will speak” – Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati
Caring Practice #3. Look for solutions.
Where would the excitement in life be if we knew how to do it all? Begin finding solutions to your stressor(s) by wondering out loud: how can this be solved?
Take an additional caring step forward and eliminate the expectation of finding the solution immediately.
Instead, trust, and the answer will come.
Caring Practice #5. Move.
Hurtful emotions, feelings and physical impacts that come with stress can linger. Moving the body in nurturing ways can help to process stress and its byproducts.
Engage in movement in a way that feels right for where you are now: would a walk in nature feel soothing? How do you suppose you’d feel after some gentle stretching? Perhaps more intense movements like running, power yoga, weight lifting, boxing or Crossfit would be cathartic. Maybe more uplifting movement like dancing could bring some joy and flow to your day.
How can you care more today?
Additional Reading:
Make water your primary choice:
Choose packaged foods more carefully:
Include Protein: The Building Block of Life
Include Carbohydrates: They're not the Enemy?
Include Fat: Less or More? What Kind?
Is your daily schedule adding to your stress?
Check out The Self Care Daily Planner! The only tool that will enable you to track, notice and prioritize all your totally normal human needs like food and water, rest, goals, and even FUN, along with all the things you've got to get done every day. It's the daily planner you've been longing for; the one that recognizes you're not a machine whose only purpose is productivity. Once you start using this planner, you just might wonder how you ever managed to get stuff done without also prioritizing your wellbeing before.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. If you're interested in making dietary changes, guidance from a nutrition expert is highly advised. Please email inquiries to alyssa@fabulous-nutrition.com
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