As the end of the year approaches, many people find themselves stressed. It is a time of closing out the year that just passed, and gearing up for what lies ahead. While this can be an exciting time of changes, it can also prove to be quite stressful, as you move through the holidays, plan for New Year’s Eve resolutions, and plan for the year ahead. I want you to know it is perfectly okay to feel the stress of the holidays, and of all the hustle and bustle that surrounds this time of year. Everyone feels stress at some point. It is how you manage the stress that determines how it will affect you physically and emotionally.
Chronic stress can lead to anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, digestive disorders, hair loss, and high blood sugars. It can also diminish the functioning of your immune system and contribute to memory impairment. Chronic stress can impede your relationships with others, can affect your productivity at work and home, and can diminish your quality of life. While stress is a normal experience in life, it is not good for you to stay in that
state of being without taking steps to nurture and nourish yourself.
Self-care is what you intentionally do for yourself to nourish your mind, body and spirit, and to optimize your overall health and well-being. It is easy to get so overwhelmed in times of stress, that you overlook important self-care practices, which can make it more difficult to ground yourself and maintain a healthy outlook. However, self-care is an important part of being healthy, maintaining clarity and peace, and navigating through challenging
moments. With that in mind, I have four basic practices that everyone should make the time to do on a daily basis, and especially in times of stress.
They are not rocket science, but writing them down and making the time to do these four things will help you begin to move in the direction of managing your stress in a healthy way so you can live with greater vitality and peace. Do these four things daily to be sure you are taking care of your
basic needs:
Sleep 8-10 hours. When your body gets the rest it needs, it is better equipped to handle whatever comes your way.
Eat – Nourish yourself. Remember to eat balanced meals and drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Take time to sit down at the table, turn the TV and phone off, put your work away, and eat. When you nourish and hydrate yourself, you give your body the fuel it needs to handle stress and keep your immune system and adrenals healthy.
Move your body – Exercise. Walk. Take the stairs. Park a distance from wherever you are going, and walk a little further. Take full, deep breaths as you walk, taking in the fresh air. Carve out 10-15 minutes of your day and get your body moving.
Sit still. Breathe. Take 5 minutes to close your eyes, and just breathe. Turn off all the chatter around you. Turn off the TV, the radio, and your phone.
Just breathe deeply. Following these four simply guidelines in times of stress will do wonders to help you create a healthy body, strong mind, and radiant spirit.