Stress – it’s basically unavoidable. Life today means we are always working, always moving, always on the go. All of this adds up to a variety of side effects, from poor eating habits and excessive drinking to sleeplessness and weakened immune systems.
Fortunately, more and more people have recognized these harmful effects of stress and are taking steps to remedy the problem. Since there are so many sources of stress, according to Dr. Michael Mantell in an article for ACE, “including erroneous thinking, life’s circumstances, glutamate, GABA, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and CHR/cortisol”. It’s not reasonable to think you can eliminate stress altogether. However, there are ways to help manage it.
Smile More. It seems too simple, but the act of smiling creates a positive response in the brain. The same goes for saying ‘thank you’. By creating this positive energy, you focus more on what is positive than what might be going wrong.
Unplug. We are bombarded with information at every turn. Put down the phone, tablet or laptop and do something else – take a walk or lean back and relax.
Meditate. Even if sitting still and chanting mantras isn’t your thing, you can still meditate. The idea here is break the trend of negative thinking inside your head. Focus your thoughts on being positive and saying positive things to yourself. Be aware of your body and mind together, how they interact and how they work. You can do this while running, swimming or other physical activity as well as while being still.
Think consciously. When you find yourself drowning in a swamp of negative thoughts, turn it around. Find the positive in every negative thought to change your outlook and your day. Being positive is something that is contagious – of people see you being positive, chances are good that they will be, too.
Looking for more ways to tame your stress? Call or come by Infinite Fitness and speak with one of our skilled trainers. We are happy to help you in any way we can.