The Unavoidable Daily Stress
Stress is ubiquitous nowadays, even more so this year with this pandemic that came upon us. And some days can certainly feel “heavier” than others. Dr. Steve Maraboli said, “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” As the years go by, we can definitively become stronger and more resilient. But it is not just one thing that can help us handle stress better (and life-changing events at times). Rather it is a set of tools, such as daily meditation, exercise, and better nutrition. As mentioned in 10 Reasons You Feel Old and Get Fat, by Dr. Frank Lipman, what follows is a list of some of the things we can do that can help us unwind and better handle whatever we have to deal with every day:
Strategies to Manage Stress
- Exercise
- Meditate
- Practice mindfulness
- Use guided visualization
- Do a breathing exercise
- Listen to some music
- Take up tai chi, yoga, or some other type of “moving meditation”
- Set some limits when it comes to engagements; learn to say “no” at times
- Set time for yourself (like two hours a week) to do something that brings you calm and fulfillment
- Get enough sleep to strengthen your mitochondria, among other things
- Try to limit your exposure to toxins in your food, water, and personal-care products the best you can
- Avoid sweets and too many starches; see which foods work for you and buy accordingly
In Summary
Being equipped with the right tools like the ones listed above to handle stress better and to tackle life’s never-ending ups and downs can help in more than one way. Choose the strategies that resonate the most with your present mindset as a starting point, and then add a few more whenever it feels right to do so. Building new habits takes time. Be patient and persevere!
Until next time!
Reference
Lipman, Frank. 10 Reasons You Feel Old And Get Fat : — And How You Can Stay Young, Slim, And Happy!. Carlsbad, California, Hay House, Inc, 2016, pp. 86–7.
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