New Year, New You: 5 Keys to Your Health Resolutions’ Success (Part 4) – Stress and Sleep
Up until a few years ago, I underestimated how much lack of sleep and too much stress actually impacted my health.
It wasn’t until I was studying to become a health coach that I began to see how stress is literally killing us. You see, many of the preventable diseases that our world is facing have been impacted and driven by too much stress and little sleep.
When we are chronically stressed (both mentally and physically), our bodies are in fight-or-flight mode and are constantly working to fight off whatever threat it feels. Therefore, our immune system doesn’t have time or energy to fight off actual threats to our body and has no time to rest.
Then, if we aren’t sleeping that perpetuates the cycle and our bodies literally start to break down. Sleep not only helps our body restore and rest, but helps our cells and body repair themselves. Sleep also regulates many of the hormones in our body (cortisol, insulin, leptin and ghrelin) that help regulate blood sugar, hunger levels, and even cravings!
Therefore it is CRUCIAL that if you want to lead a healthy life, lose weight for good, and prevent illnesses to your best ability, that you manage your stress and sleep.
So to break the cycle of too much stress and too little sleep this new year, here are three things you can do!
1.Identify the Stressors: Take out a sheet of paper and identify the common stressors and triggers in your life. Do you get stressed about work or finances? Do you get stressed about family members being sick or about how your kids will be when they grow up? Whatever it is, make a list of what causes the stress in your life and be totally honest about this!
2.Create Alternatives: Now that you have identify the stressors, create alternative responses to the stressors. For example, if when a situation doesn’t go as planned instead of feeling discouraged or fostering a negative mindset, express gratitude for what is GOING well in your life and choose to dwell on those things!
3.Give Yourself Permission to Sleep: Listen, I absolutely understand – sometimes life is just busy and there is so much to do that consistent sleep may be the last thing you are thinking about. I even wrote a blog post on it >>HERE<< because I felt challenged to practice what I preach and sleep! I had to tell myself that I DESERVE and NEED sleep and it’s not just for some people, but is for me too! So my challenge to you is when you feel like you need a nap, an extra 30 minutes of sleep, or just need a day to sleep, SLEEP! Don’t try to justify it or say you earned it, just do it. Because you DESERVE IT!
Support for YOU this New Year: Restart Your Health Programs
As I mentioned in my last post on nutrition, I really want to see you succeed in your health this new year and have catered my Restart Your Health Programs to do just that!
In particular, Restart Express: 30 Day Fit and Health Jump Start is specifically designed to jump start your health and fitness goals in the new year and see you finally achieve them, for the long haul. We will be talking about five key strategies to set you up for success such as planning ahead, nutrition, exercise and movement, stress and sleep, and fostering a positive mindset around your health and life.
This program is online, but will be jam-packed with resources and support to help you really succeed and become the healthiest version of yourself this new year!
Check the program out >>HERE<< and be sure to grab your spot/early bird price of only $97 US while you can!
Can’t wait to continue to support you in the new year!
