How stress affects health, How to manage stress, Stress Can Be a Good Thing
Two people can experience the same situation in completely different ways. What is stressful for one, may not be for the other. The body goes into protection mode often referred to as fight or flight when a stressful situation is perceived. The heart rate increases to help supply extra oxygen to the different organs and increase mental acuity. The stress response for a short period of time serves a great purpose, but if it continues over longer periods it will start to have negative impacts on the body and its' ability to function optimally.
Working in the corporate world, especially as the primary caregiver for another human(s) can increase stress levels substantially. My experience with the Corporate World negatively impacted my health, especially measurable through an increase in weight and blood pressure. I was a part of a machine that was created to produce a product that would create income for The Corporation. My role was to help people discover the obstacle(s) that prevented them from reaching their optimal health. Corporations create situations that will drive employees to produce the most they can or break trying. #burnout I discovered the obstacle preventing me from reaching my own personal optimized health was working for a corporation. The effects were especially felt working through the pandemic when Corporations took advantage of the job market uncertainty and overworked people at unprecedented records. #burnout I love helping people reach their optimal health, I'm also a fan of quality, and I understand lasting change takes time. These elements weren't really valued in my previous role.
Chronic stress can easily become a way of life as the hours turn into days turn into years of chronic stress. So how do we even know if we are actually stressed or it's just a way of life now? Some indicators of stress may be insomnia (there is the circle of sleep and stress and the aftermath of lack of sleep), irritability, excessive caffeine intake, consuming alcohol, and feelings of anxiety. Heavy workloads, long hours, and job insecurity are prime stress triggers (hello Corporate World).
Now that we know what stress is and how the body uses the stress response, let's look at ways to manage stress. One of the main ways to combat stress is through stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). When the PNS is stimulated the body moves away from the fight or flight mode and into relaxation. With that, the body slows down instead of speeding up like when stressed. Deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness are the most immediate ways to elicit the relaxation response. Another way to manage stress is through regular exercise. In this way, the body is able to burn off the adrenaline and epinephrine produced when stressed.
Stress can trigger insomnia so it is important to have a nighttime routine. A routine will help cue your body its time to rest and rejuvenate. I have found a sleep meditation helps and I also take a magnesium supplement. I also use the Focus feature on my phone which ques me an hour prior to sleep to cease the electronics and it will monitor the hours of sleep I get as well. I live in an apartment and I'm a parent so some nights I get more sleep than others. Consult your doctor before taking supplements as they may interact with your current medications or your body may have a negative reaction.
Here is my nightly routine:
09:00 - Put away electronics (phone goes into bedtime mode)
-Journal reflection about the day
09:30 - Reading while I sip on 1 tsp magnesium carbonate with 8oz water
09:50 - Sleep Mediation (typically 7 min)
10:00 - Sleep
I am a problem solver and curious Holistic Coach. Let's explore what a healthy lifestyle can look like for you. Schedule a free 30-minute consult to see if we are a good fit to work together towards creating a healthy lifestyle. Until then, eat well, sleep well, and may the force be with you.
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