Life for us humans on planet earth is becoming increasingly more stressful!
Many of my clients complain about feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious. They complain about increased workloads and longer hours, the lack of adequate supervisors, challenging co-workers or subordinates, and the resulting feelings of overwhelm. They complain about having to face the commute once again as remote working is winding down, or about personal decisions that put them at odds with friends or loved ones, or they worry about the health and well-being of loved ones who have suffered financially or health-wise during this long pandemic.
Just turning on the news in an attempt stay up with the latest from Washington, let alone the world, amplifies this stress. High stress levels impact the quality of our personal relationships compounding the overwhelm and anxiety we are already experiencing.
We are a stressed-out society, and stress is a killer. Stress eats up our limited resources spiritually, emotionally and mentally, as well as wearing down our physical body.
Stress is the silent virus. Its symptoms mirror real physical and emotional ailments. Physically it shows up as digestive issues (irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux), fatigue, or headaches. Mentally it reveals itself in forgetfulness, poor concentration and focus, confusion, and negative thinking. Emotionally it manifests as lack of enthusiasm, motivation, and irritability. Apathy, burn-out, and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are spiritual symptoms of stress. Stress can intrude on our relationships in the form of nagging, bickering, blaming and intolerance.
Does any of this sound familiar to you?
Stress makes coping with normal daily activates increasingly difficult. However, there are several things you can do to cope with stress. The following is a list of a few things that have helped others. Give them a try. They will help you too!
- Schedule Self-Care Time daily –
A soothing bath: Here is a relaxing bath recipe from my Dr. Lisa Moore, my Network Chiropractor and aromatherapy instructor.
- 6 drops lavender (Lavender angustifolia)
- 2 drops clary sage (salvia sclareaI)
- Dim the lights, light a candle, and soak in this soothing bath while taking deep relaxing breaths. You can add some relaxing music if you like.
- A cup of tea while relaxing; maybe even gazing out the window thinking of absolutely nothing. Organic India’s Tulsi Ashwagandha Stress Relieving & Balancing Tea is lovely for taking a short time out to relax and de-stress.
- Reading just for pleasure, or going for a Walk (especially in the early morning or late evening when it is cooler).
- Schedule a Pleasurable Activity each week – a hike in nature, a trip to the ocean, a massage, an afternoon just for you, or a special outing with a friend or a special someone – even if it is just to the local coffee shop.
- Relaxation: When stress starts to build take a few minutes to relax. Relaxation can help you release, re-focus, and renew. One simple relaxation exercise that I share with my clients is:
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- Close your eyes and imagine you are in a beautiful spot – the ocean, redwood forests, a beautiful mountain meadow
Take three deep breaths, exhaling slowly- Count backwards from 10 to 1 while imagining you are sinking deeper and deeper into relaxation
- Relax all of your muscles
- Relax your mind
- Then visualize being in that beautiful spot, breathing in the fresh air, absorbing the serenity and peace around you
- Then when you are ready count yourself back from 1 to 5
CLICK HERE to listen to a short 8 minute relaxation for your enjoyment.
Take a few minutes to listen to this visualization! Or you can do this simple relaxation exercise in just 5 to 10 minutes on you own. Afterwards you will feel more relaxed, you will have greater clarity and focus, and you will have an increased ability to cope with whatever comes your way.
If you are experiencing symptoms of physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and/or relational stress and need help finding relief, then please contact me and come in for a complementary 20 minute phone consultation to find out how you can cultivate more peace and calm in your life. You can Schedule a Consultation Here, or you can text Joy at 415-819-8769 or email Joy here.