6 Ways to Manage Stress

At Longevity Drummoyne,Edgecliff,Marrickville,Bella Vista, Randwick, Lindfield and Balmain  we know that from time to time stress can be a major factor in our lives. With this year being an extremely stressful year for many, this blog will discuss what stress is and 6 ways you can manage it.

What is Stress?

Stress is the body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. It triggers the fight or flight response and releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which prepares the body to take action against potential danger.

Stress in and of itself is ok in the short term but if stress becomes chronic it can be detrimental to our ageing process and lead to health conditions such as anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, sleep problems, weight gain and memory and concentration issues.

Everyone reacts differently to the stressors in our lives, our genetics and past life experiences can impact how much stress affects us and how well we respond to it.

Learning to react to stress in a positive and healthy way can help manage the overall impact that stress has on our lives. Managing stress is an essential life skill and there are many stress management strategies that you can implement into your life.

Stress Management Strategies

1. Exercise: Exercising in almost any form, even just a brisk walk, can act as a great stress reliever by boosting our feel good hormones and improving our mood.

2. Nutrition: Eating a healthy balanced diet is extremely important. Some foods to consider in your diet to help with stress are things like

a. Avocados, as they are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, which we need for a healthy nervous system

b. Almonds, has they contain vitamin B, E and magnesium which helps boost the immune system and regulate the stress response

c. Oranges has they contain vitamin C, which helps to lower blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol.

3. Relaxation techniques: Practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing techniques, meditation and massage.

a. Some examples of deep breathing techniques are 4,7,8 breathing or box breathing.

4. Self Care: Making time for your hobbies such as reading a book or listening to music.

5. Social Interaction: Making time to see family and friends and creating a lasting relationship with those around you.

6. Mental Mindset: Having a positive attitude, being optimistic and improving your negative self-talk will allow you to have better coping strategies during stressful times.

 

If you need help managing your stress or help with any of the strategies above then please reach out to a Longevity Exercise Physiologist on 1300 964 002