Healthy Tips to Manage Every Day Stress - Part 1
I started Olivia & Granny’s Treasures because I am passionate about bringing joy and comfort to both humans and animals. Finding joy and reducing stress can greatly enhance our immune system. My passion has been made even stronger in today’s current climate.
What is Stress? Stress is the body’s way of responding to life’s demands. It can be caused both by a good and bad experience. When we are stressed by the things that are going on in our lives, our bodies react by releasing chemicals into the bloodstream. These chemicals give us more energy and strength (aka fight or flight), which can be a good thing if this stress is caused by eminent physical danger. But it can also be a bad thing, if too much of these chemicals are released too often. It is important for us to find ways of de-stressing our bodies naturally.
So… how can we minimize our stress, support our immune systems, and practice quality, self-care every day and in times like these?
Eat Well - We all know that old saying “You are what you eat”! So how do we keep our immune systems strong? By consuming a diet rich in fresh whole foods and incorporating more home cooking. Here are a few positive steps towards wellness: Strive to reduce daily sugar intake, drink purified water, choose a wider variety of fresh veggies and fruits, choose quality fats (ie: avocado, olive oil, etc), proteins and whole grain carbohydrates.
Get Proper Rest - At least 7 hours of sleep per night is best. If you are one of those people that requires more than 7 hours of sleep, practice discipline and turn off the TV to ensure a decent night’s rest. The hours of sleep most important are between the hours of 10 pm and 2 am. If you are a napper, by all means nap away, studies have shown that napping may add years to your life. A good sound sleep helps keep our emotional, mental and physical state healthy. Sleep is when the body does most of its repair and rebuilding. Sleep is when we get to recharge our batteries. A good night sleep prepares us for the next day and helps to keep us sharp and alert. Lack of sleep can slow our immune responses and make us unfocused, cranky, impatient, and anxious.
Prayer or Meditation - “Stay Connected”! It is important to have “quiet” time. Even just 10-15 minutes per day is enough to help keep us focused and on track. It isn’t so much the number of minutes we spend doing it but rather the daily consistency that is important.
Decompressing Time - At the end of the night try a relaxing bath in lavender dead sea salt or Epsom salt to relax those tired and aching muscles. This is a great way to calm the whole body and a great way to enhance a good night sleep. One of my favorite ways of decompressing at night is heating up one of our comforting aromatherapy hot packs to reduce the tension from the day. Pups get stressed too! Warm up a hot pack for your pup as well…or help your dog relax in a bath using our liquid lavender soap.
Attitude of Gratitude - Make it a rule to have an attitude of gratitude and strive to see the good in everything. Be thankful for all you have. Even when things don’t always go the way we plan – be grateful. Although we may not be able to see it at the time – there is always a reason as to why things happen as they do – and -- sometimes things not going the way we had hoped is actually a gift because there is something better coming along.
Blessings to All!