Don't Stress The Season!

Don't Stress The Season

My good friend and fellow passionate person about women's health, Dr. Jennifer Montes, recently referred to stress as the new smoking, times three. I agree. I experienced a serious health issue when I was in my mid 30's. After 12 months of trying to figure it out, the diagnosis was IBD, Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The treatment was to "calm down." So that I did. I resigned from my stressful job and the daily commute to New York. Although it was not a pleasant experience, I am grateful that I learned about stress ravages at a relatively young age.

One of the most important things I can do as a wellness coach is to share my experience with and educate my clients about the terrible effects of stress. Some stress in life is necessary. It pushes us to get things done. But chronic stress is extremely detrimental to our physical and emotional health.😰

Chronic stress upsets our hormonal balance. If you are a woman over 40 like me, you have enough hormonal change happening…you don't need to be topping it off with even more from elevated and perpetual stress.

The holidays can be stressful, we all know that. But this year, we have the added component of COVID and a tumultuous presidential election. That's why it's extra, extra important during this holiday season to be aware of your stress and adopt some techniques to help you manage it.

Here are 12 things you can do to de-stress this holiday season.

1. Prioritize your life, so you make sure to get adequate relaxation and rest to rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit.
2. Make a list of what is bothering you. You will soon realize that some things do not need to be stressful, and others are more of a priority.
3. Eating healthy makes a big difference. If you are feeling good on the inside, you will manage daily life much better.

4. Exercise regularly; exercise has repeatedly been shown to be beneficial to stress levels, mental and physical health.
5. Imagine calm. Visualize a calm situation, such as a beach, cozy cottage with a warm fire, or whatever you find relaxing. Combine this with relaxing breathing techniques for added benefits.

6. 'Laughter is the best medicine' is a famous saying for a good reason. Even a forced smile can bring benefits. Watch a funny movie. I recommend Elf for the holiday season.
7. Say no to some things; it is impossible to do everything all the time. As soon as you learn to start saying no and prioritizing your time, your stress levels will drastically reduce. Accept that you are human and only capable of so much in one go.
8. Vitamins are essential to body functions, and a deficiency in any of them will affect your ability to manage stress. Even taking a multivitamin supplement every day will be beneficial, and by feeling better on the inside, you will be able to deal with stress more effectively. (you can schedule a free supplementation consultation with us if you need some direction on this. https://calendly.com/sphericality/program-introdutory-call)
9. Be realistic and accept that some things are entirely out of our control. As soon as you learn to accept that, you will instantly become less stressed.
10. Practice deep breathing techniques – take a deep breath, hold it in, and slowly release. Do this for five minutes every time you feel stressed, and you will instantly feel better.
11. Look at the bigger picture – does this stressor really matter? Will it matter in 6 months? If not, then maybe rethink how much you should be stressing about it.

12. Remind yourself of positive affirmations regularly. These can be memorized and repeated relatively easily and quickly and usually work instantly.

Enjoy your holiday!