I am late…and maybe a little stressed.
“I am late.” “I forgot.” “I can’t find it.” “I am lost.” “I don’t even know how I got here.”
How often have you said any of these statements? Most of use have. Probably more often than we are willing to admit.
However, when these statements are being made on a daily basis it may be an indication that you are stressed.
I have to confess, I like to send out my monthly email news and post to my blog by the first Sunday of the month. As you may have noticed, today is not the first Sunday of the month. Out of self-love for myself during the busy time of my son’s graduation and family commitments, I decided to give myself a little pause, some grace, and meditate instead.
Please know, it was not because you aren’t important, but because it was best for me to tune in to my body. My body and mind said, “no more juggling…you have reached your limit.” And so I let one task slide a little. No harm, right? How do you feel about this statement?
What is your body trying to tell you? Take time to pause and reflect. Take a few deeps breaths and assess what is going on in your life. Journal your thoughts. Reflect on what you journaled.
Are you sleeping enough? Is the quality of your sleep good? How is your nutrition? Are you stressed? All of these factors can impact your health for the good and the bad. The level of your stress can affect your eating habits, quality of sleep, and your overall health.
I was recently on the Healthy Lifestyle Solutions Podcast show where I was invited to discuss Self-Care and Osteoporosis Prevention Through Healthier Lifestyle. This is where you can listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/191-self-care-and-osteoporosis-prevention-through/id1479362562?i=1000564953102. I hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Let me know what you think.
Everyone has stress, it’s unavoidable. Some stress is good as it can move you when you are feeling stuck. It’s the chronic unattended to stress that I am talking about.
So what is it that is stressing you out? How is it affecting your well-being? And, how is it affecting your Bone Mineral Density?
When ignored stress can weaken the immune system, cause inflammation and hormonal imbalances which lead to bone loss, and contribute to other lifestyle diseases.
According to Functional Medicine doctors, over 80% of patients suffer from stress related illnesses. Many of which could have been prevented with healthy stress management, exercise, and proper nutrition.
Now that you have a basic understanding of how stress can impact you. You might be wondering what can you do about it?
Firstly, set aside time each day to reflect how you are feeling, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Secondly, practice establishing healthy boundaries in both your personal and professional life. Being able to say, “no” and not feel guilty is a must!
Lastly, develop a plan for health coping strategies to ensure you don’t become overwhelmed. Here are some ideas and proven strategies for managing stress in a health way:
- Daily Exercise
- Gratitude Journaling
- Yoga (particularly Restorative Yoga)
- Mindfulness Meditation
Here is a link to a Mindful Breathing practice to get you started!