5 Things You Can Do to Handle Stress
By: Ashley Ward FNS
You just keep running from one place to another. You have your daily job but you still have to take care of your family and yourself. You need to clean, cook, take care of the laundry, get groceries and still be there in case any of your children or your spouse needs something. It’s pretty hard living this way and you are just stressed out. You don’t know what to do because someone has to do all these things. And it just gets to a point where you just want to explode…
Well, first of all, you are not alone. There are many of us out there in the exact same situation you are and feeling the same way. Secondly, it can be solved. Yes, you read it perfectly: you don’t need to be stressed like this; you don’t need to feel like this anymore. Thirdly, and this may be a new fact for you, stress is not your problem. Just like we teach in our office, about your nerve system, stress is only the symptom that is telling you that you have a problem (or a “misalignment”) in your life.
So what’s the problem? Here are a few helpful tips/tricks to see what the issue is and ways to help us cope in the midst of the stress.
* Alter your perception/attitude:
One of my favorite sayings is, “The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.” We all know that we can’t control everything, but we CAN always choose our attitude or our perception. Take a step back and re-evaluate the situation. See what other angle you can see. What about this situation can help you grow or learn? I like to keep this quote by Wayne Dyer in mind when I’m faced with a stressful situation, “When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.”
* Manage Your Time Better:
This should be a no brainer, but for most of us, we don’t schedule our days. We are just in “go” mode all the time. Managing one crisis after another. Instead of sitting down and planning and scheduling our days. Including planning 30-60 mins for us (read a book, meditate, get a massage, go on a walk etc). Keep in mind, when scheduling your day; we must learn how to say “no” to some things. We have to understand the difference between “should” and “must” and “wants”. Taking care of ourselves need to be in the “must” field. Remember, you can’t serve from an empty vessel…
* Get Adjusted:
Chiropractic focuses on the spine, which is the root of the nervous system. One of the effects of chronic stress is muscle tension, which can lead to uneven pressure on the spine, which in turn leads to subluxations. Adjustments help ease muscle tension, therefore helping to achieve a balanced spine which is a crucial element of managing personal stress. In addition to getting adjusted, nutrition is also a crucial component of stress management. Feed your body clean natural God made foods, and avoid all processed man made foods.
* Start Exercising:
You don’t have to go to a gym or start to train for the marathon. You just need to start moving. People who work out regularly tend to handle stress differently then people who don’t. Exercise is also a great stress reliever and helps to build endorphins and gives you more energy to tackle your ever growing “to-do” list. Exercise doesn’t have to be a super long daunting task either. You can pick from so many activities such as aerobic classes, dancing, swimming, walking or yoga. Pick something you enjoy, and just get moving.
* Relaxation/Breathing Techniques:
Simple breathing exercises can help you handle/reduce stress. Just by deep breathing and trying to think about things that calm you down is a great way. Give this a shot: Inhale to a count of 2, then exhale to a count of 4. Repeat 10x. Amazing how simply coming back to your breath, can help you release stress and refocus.
Stress has so many effects in our life and on our health. By using these simple ways to handle stress, you’ll be able to be calmer and happier. And this will help you achieve your primary goal: peace. As you work through these steps, you can find the cause of your stress, and there you will find the solution.
During the week of April 18th – April 22nd at Life Source we want to help members of our community improve their life and develop healthy habits and live with vitality. Please contact us at 402-934-4220 to schedule your new patient exam. During this week we will offer the new exam and consultation for $25 (normally $240 – that’s a savings of $215 for one week only!).
You are also welcome to join us Monday April 18th at 6:15 pm at Life Source for our Focus/ADHD Workshop.