Whole 30: Day 12 – Stress Management
We all have stress in our lives to some extent, some more than others.
Most of us feel that stress is a normal part of our lives and there’s just nothing we can do about it. Yet, I believe stress is a choice. We can either choose to let worry and stress take over our minds and bodies, or can make an active choice to fight the stress that creeps over us. Because my friends, stress is not conducive to our health – mentally, emotionally, physically or spiritually.
As the Whole 30 email pointed out (ironically today’s Day 12 email was on stress), stress can lead to systematic inflammation in our body where our bodies release cortisol (stress Hormone), which will lead our bodies to want to fight or flight.
However, if there is no physical release of that fight or flight response, cortisol levels build up in our bodies and can lead to increased appetites, chronic systematic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, depression, and so much more. Stress is also often the culprit to what we would call “emotional eating” leading us to eat to feel better when overwhelmed with life.
The reason why this email is so timely and why I wanted to write about stress is because I am often a victim of it. Whether it’s being concerned about finances, getting the needed tasks done for the day, visiting family members, making sure I’ve planned my meals, or even making sure my work is done at my job in time, I often let stress get the best of me. When it comes to major decisions as well, I let the “what ifs” consume me until it really does upset my whole being, and my body especially lets me know it doesn’t like it when I’m stressed.
So how do we manage stress? How do we not let it get the best of us and allow our health to thrive instead of decline?
Here are 10 ways you can manage stress in your life:
- Identify your triggers and change your habits: Realize what triggers the stress in your life. Ask your family and friends to help you with this.
- Exercise some, but not too much: Low intensity exercises like hiking, walking, stretching will still release endorphins and combat the stress. High intensity exercises may wreak more havoc on your body sometimes. Gauge this and see what works best for you.
- Skip coffee if you’ve been drinking too much: Coffee is a stimulant and will keep your mind and body going. If you are drinking too much caffeine, this is not going to help with your stress and cortisol levels.
- ERC Strategy: Make a list of stressors and see which ones you can Eliminate, Reduce, or ones you simply must Cope with.
- Pray & Meditate: This is important to me since as a Christian, Jesus has a lot to say about worry. He actually says I shouldn’t worry because He knows all my needs before I even ask and will provide them all. Being honest with him about how I’m feeling and allowing His Truth to speak into my life, challenges my stress every time in a good way.
- Call someone: Sometimes its great just to talk to someone about what your feeling and get advice.
- Listen to music: Music has the ability to calm us and put our thoughts into perspective.
- Turn off your computer: In the age of connectivity, computers, emails, and social media can sometimes stress us out more than helping us. Disconnect for awhile from your technology and do something you find relaxing.
- Read: The Whole 30 email mentioned that just 6 minutes of reading can reduce your heart rate by 68%, and easy the tensions in your heart and muscle.
- Have some fun: Honestly, doing something you find fun will take your mind off the stress and allow you to experience joy and happiness. Make a list of fun things you can do when stressed and do them 🙂
So, let’s commit to one another to not let stress control our lives, but to manage and control our stress. Let us make a choice to not let fear consume us, but to overcome that fear with truth and remain triumphant over it.
Ultimately, let’s go to our Creator and cast all of our burdens on Him and know that He cares for us and all that we are feeling and going through (1 Peter 5:7).
