In our daily lives, many get distracted from enjoying life because of stress. The effects of stress can be harmful to your body. The long-term effects of stress can even become a precursor for various chronic diseases. What assists me with stress is to take control
of my life and situations by decreasing negative thoughts, worry, and strain of the mind and body through various activities and habits.
There is no magic pill for eliminating stress. To decrease stress one has to understand how manage it. The benefit of stress release are the release of chemicals called endorphins within our brain. Endorphin release can cause a positive feeling of euphoria and general happiness. Some of the effects of stress include headache, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, weight gain, and depression. Listed below are some things that may assist your mind and body in helping decrease and manage stress in your daily life. As you can see, the list includes many forms of physical activity. Being physically active is a key strategy to managing stress, and for me, it is number one. In addition to this list, Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less offers a free webinar on stress presented by Dr. Carolyn Dunn of NC State University (type your name under “Guest” and then click “Watch Recording Now”).
Ways to assist your mind and body to manage stress in your daily life:
- Yoga
- Time management
- Walking
- Tai Chi
- Schedule your day
- Take a mental break
- Pilates
- Sleep
- Listen to music
- Read a book
- Turn off technology
- Positive reflection
- Deep breathing
- De-clutter thoughts and environment
- Garden
- Dance
- Continue to eat healthy
- Spend time with friends and family
- Laugh
- Meditate
- Paint or write
- Pilates
- Find a hobby
- Ride a bike
- Accept what you cannot change