Too blessed to be stressed? Stress
is often considered to be negative, but not all stress is bad. The times
in my life when I experienced the most growth, were often the most stressful:
getting through graduate school with small children, training for a half
marathon, or speaking before large groups of people. Eustress, or positive
stress, is healthy, enhances brain development, is short lived and can give one
a sense of fulfillment. It feels exciting and it can improve our performance,
concentration and motivation.
Stress is simply our body’s way of
responding to any type of demand and is required for growth to occur. However,
stress levels can become toxic if they are too intense and persist for a long
period of time. Negative or toxic stress can result from a number of things,
including legal and financial problems, marital problems, abuse,
discrimination, chronic neglect, or any other type of adverse experience. It
disrupts the brain structure and is associated with mental and physical health
problems such as depression, anxiety, weight gain, heart disease and digestive
problems, just to name a few. It is pretty difficult to come up with any sort
of medical disorder that is not caused by or at least aggravated by stress.
So if you are experiencing toxic/negative
stress, it is important to make some very conscious life changes. Here are a
few healthy habits that will help you to manage stress:
1. Connect with others:
We are social beings and do well in the presence of others. Talking with others
can release hormones that reduce stress, even if you cannot change the
stressful situation. So stay connected to positive people in your life to
combat the negative effects of stress.
2. Do something you enjoy: You
may feel that you’re too busy to engage in pleasurable activities, but studies
have found that individuals who engage in more frequent enjoyable leisure
activities have better psychological and physical functioning. For some
ideas about pleasurable activities, check out my blog, Get Up and Do Something.
3. Get moving: Exercise
releases endorphins that boost your mood and make you feel good. It can also
serve as a valuable distraction to your daily worries. You don’t have to begin
with an intense workout regimen. Short, 10-minute bursts of activity that
elevate your heart rate and make you break out into a sweat can help to relieve
stress and give you more energy and optimism.
4. Focus your mind: The brain
functions best when it only focuses on one thing at a time. Multitasking
substantially reduces efficiency, puts stress on our system and causes us to
make more errors. To improve your focus, turn off background noise, turn away
from distracting activities, and eliminate the pull of computers, smart phones
and other such devices.
5. Be positive: Instead of
being pessimistic, setting unrealistic expectations, engaging in negative
self-talk, or always seeing the glass half-empty, make an effort to focus on
the positive things in your life. The simple act of keeping a gratitude journal
and focusing on all that’s good in your life can help reduce stress and give
you a new perspective. Being positive helps you to understand that you, indeed,
are too
blessed to be stressed.
6. Practice mindfulness:
It has been said that we only spend about 10% of our time in the present
moment, while we spend the rest of our time anticipating what’s ahead or
reflecting on what’s already happened. Mindfulness-paying attention on purpose, in the
present moment– can help relieve stress, improve
sleep, and reduce or alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. For tips on
mindfulness practices, check out my blog, Five Ways to Step Into the Present.
These
are just a few healthy habits that can help you to manage stress. Remember that
not all stress is bad, but it doesn’t hurt to practice some of these
healthy habits. Show that you are too blessed to be stressed by practicing
mindfulness, being positive, connecting with others, exercising, focusing your
mind and doing something you enjoy. Share your story by leaving a reply
at the bottom of this post. If you have any questions, please feel free to
reach out to me at dr.c.watlington@gmail.com.
Warmly,
Christina
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