Mastering Stress

Whether we like it or not, stress is part of life…sometimes a significant part. And habits during stressful periods may further burden our bodies—under-eating, over-eating, cutting sleep, sex and all fun from our routines. Here’s the best thing you can do for yourself… learn the techniques that will help you cope with and reduce stress, and help your body thrive when it’s overwhelmed.

Optimizing your diet to counteract stress
You can help your body greatly by eating properly while stressed. Diet can either counteract or exacerbate the negative biochemical and physiological effects of stress on the body.

Try to eliminate caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and processed sugar during period of stress.
Focus eating nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich whole foods in small meals throughout the day. Try to de-stress before eating, sitting calmly for several minutes to ready yourself for the nourishment of a good meal. Avoid skipping meals.
Drink lots of water (2-3 quarts/day) to keep yourself hydrated and circulating nutrients.
Eat simpler foods that are easy to digest like soups, juices, and salads.
If you struggle with poor digestion and/or ulcers, drink chamomile tea, peppermint tea, and licorice root (DGL) to help with acid irritation.
Look into supplementing your diet short-term with vitamins that are typically depleted by stress, like the B-vitamins and vitamin C, which are essential to counteract stress.

Getting good sleep
Practicing good sleep habits allows your body to rest and recharge each night, therefore maximizing your energy and helping to maintain balanced hormones.

Have fun
Doing things in life you enjoy is so important to balancing stress and helping you relax. And in times of intense stress, these are often things we cut to focus on “bigger priorities”. Starting now, consider playing a top priority in life. Play serves a purpose, because you need relaxation and joy throughout life to truly thrive. If you cut joyful activities immediately when overwhelmed with stress, you’re actually creating a bigger imbalance and doing yourself a disservice.

Exercise
Consistent exercise is amazing for your mental and physical health, especially during times of stress. Exercising regularly can help you sleep better, provides your body with energy, and makes you happy due to the release of endorphins.

Practice relaxation exercises
Relaxation techniques like meditation provide you a purposeful “quiet period” during your day, where you can focus on calm, peaceful energy and let go of mental noise. Whether it’s meditation, a hot bath, experiencing quiet moments in nature, taking time to focus your attention away from mental stress is incredibly important when you’re overwhelmed.

Adjusting Perception & Attitude
Perception is everything. Especially in times of stress, it’s useful to examine your own perception and attitude. (Practicing relaxation exercises like meditation will provide perspective and help shift a negative, reactionary attitude.)

Try to understand if you have a perspective that’s not serving you, and if so, how to change it. Some questions to ask… Are you blaming others? Do you consider yourself a victim and feel powerless? Do you focus on negative thoughts, stress and worries rather than focusing on positive action you can take? Do you find yourself upset when the world does not meet your expectations? These are all perceptions that do not serve you, and that you have the power to change.
Focus on positive thoughts, on actionable steps to move you toward your goals. What do you want in life and how can you get it? Write your goals down, and refer to them often. Ask yourself each day, how do I feel grateful. Making these shifts in perception will help eliminate self-induced stress. And the more you practice positive thinking, the more powerful, balanced, and calm you will feel.

Experience your emotions and express them
Make sure to acknowledge your emotions and express them to people you love and trust. Expressing feelings helps keep you balanced, and ignoring them ultimately increases stress.

Experience meaningful, loving relationships
Take moments to interact with the people you love and trust. You may confide in them, seek advice, or just receive their emotional support.

Physical touch, love, sensuality
An amazing way to reduce stress is through physical touch.