How to create a lower stress lifestyle

Stress can be present at times in our lives for many different reasons.

Lots of these may be out of our control (e.g. worrying about one of our children, dealing with caring for an elderly or sick parent, mental health issues in the home, financial worries etc).

The stress we are under may present itself in our bodies as feeling wired and tense all the time, irritability, insomnia and poor resistance to infections.

When we are constantly in fight or flight mode, our bodies produce excess cortisol and adrenaline and we are only meant to be in this state temporarily, e.g. being chased by a predator!

Due to circumstances or habit, we may not even notice that we have been in fight or flight until our body starts showing us problems.

Regardless of the circumstances, the first step in changing how we respond to stress is to become aware of our stress levels.

Notice how you feel on waking- do you feel stressed and/or anxious immediately?

Do you reach for your phone on waking?

Could you take five minutes to yourself outside with a tea or coffee before the day launches?

Can you leave looking at your phone until you have had your breakfast and started the day without any outside intrusion?

The way we start the day has a huge impact on how we feel for the rest of the day. Having a breakfast within the first hour of waking helps keep our cortisol levels (stress hormones) regulated.

Ensure you have protein with your breakfast and try to eat without being on your phone so your body can digest your food properly.

Allow yourself to feel bored as humans are meant to have periods of time where we are not being entertained!

Starting your day consciously by creating a calm environment will do wonders for your nervous system.

During the day, take small breaks of a few minutes at a time to breathe and notice how you are feeling.

Try not to beat yourself up when you notice you are feeling stressed.

Instead, show yourself some compassion and understanding like you would if you had a friend going through a stressful period.

What could help you feel cared for and a little more relaxed today?

Do you need to ring an understanding friend or family member for a chat or meet them for a coffee?

Could you plan a peaceful evening for yourself, even if that only means ten minutes of quiet time for you?

Lots of people enjoy reading, listening to music, going for a walk, doing a meditation as a proactive way to reduce their stress.

Finding something you enjoy is the key to keeping it going.

Rather than the day running away with itself, plan some time just for you scattered throughout the day to do something that helps you feel peaceful and this will go a long way to reducing your overall stress levels.

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