If your teeth are clenched and your fists are clenched, your lifespan is probably clenched. ~Terri Guillemets
Today’s life is full of headaches, deadlines, hassles, obligations, frustrating people, traffic and a slew of other things that can bring on unwanted stress. However, if you don’t handle it properly and work at relieving stress you can shorten your lifespan or have a number of health issues because of it.
Here are a few of the health issues that can be brought on by stress:
~Heart disease
~Depression
~Weight Gain
~Weight Loss
~Digestive problems
~Skin problems
~Sleep problems
~Autoimmune diseases
Work on stress relief so you can live a long healthy life!
Read the full article here about which foods help relieve stress and which foods to avoid.
Dr. Rovenia Brock says it’s important to eat foods that will calm our nerves amid the chaos of our most stressful days. “I think a lot of people become overwhelmed with the notion of what it is to live healthy, to get a healthier lifestyle—including the foods you put in your kitchen,” she says. “But it doesn’t have to be a science project.”
Many people get stressed over financial issues (seems more so now than before due to economic situations right now). You don’t need to, nor should you allow money issues to stress you.
Here are a few tips on being able to deal with money issues in a no stress manner.
Before making a purchase ask yourself “Do I really want/need this” and “is this thing worth the time it took me to earn the money to pay for it“.
Make a budget…know exactly what comes in and what your expenditures are.
Save money in a separate account for “emergency use” and don’t touch it unless absolutely needed. Build your financial cushion.
Live within your means. This is a biggie! It’s basic math, if you spend more than you make you’re going to be running in a negative all the time.
Don’t use credit cards, pay cash for everything or use debit card (same as cash). If you must use credit cards, use those with the best interest rates and/or bonus points/incentives.
Erase your debt. Obviously you may still incur a mortgage, possibly a car payment. Credit cards should be paid and rid yourself of that monthly stressor of credit card debt. When you have no debt, you’ll be amazed at the weight lifted from your shoulders.
Stay positive and do what is right when it comes to making money and make sure to give, donate to others as well
Things happen in life that are unforeseen, so be prepared for those situations but don’t live a life stressed out over money. Don’t let money dictate the type of life you have. We all want more money, but if you’re still going to spend more than you make or have you’ll be exactly where you are now…stressed. Learn to live with money and appreciate it and what you can accomplish and do with it, but don’t let it stress you.
“Money is like manure; it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around encouraging young things to grow.” ~ Thornton Wilde
“Never spend your money before you have it” ~ Thomas Jefferson
Perception:
–noun
1. the act or faculty of apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.
2. immediate or intuitive recognition or appreciation, as of moral, psychological, or aesthetic qualities; insight; intuition; discernment: an artist of rare perception.
3. the result or product of perceiving, as distinguished from the act of perceiving; percept.
4. Psychology. a single unified awareness derived from sensory processes while a stimulus is present.
“How we perceive a situation and how we react to it is the basis of our stress. If you focus on the negative in any situation, you can expect high stress levels. However, if you try and see the good in the situation, your stress levels will greatly diminish.”
-Catherine Pulsifer
Of course there will be times when you experience stress; however, it’s how you allow yourself to react to those moments that will measure your ability to overcome the stress associated with it. If you can find something positive to learn in any situation, you’ll be able to control your levels of stress and happiness.
Which will you strive to do today? Focus on the negative? or enjoy the positive and experience less stress?
Media…it’s everywhere…
DVD players in cars, laptops, internet on cell phones, wi fi available at stores/businesses, satellite dishes, tv’s…the list goes on.
Technology and media is great….in moderation.
I’ll be the first to admit, I’d be ‘lost’ without my laptop and internet…mainly because my work and school courses are online and email which is my most used form of communication.
However, I can easily do without watching news, or having internet on my cell phone -in fact I have a basic cell phone (Samsung Gravity) and pretty much use my cell for texting & that’s about it (I dont even have internet on it!).
People rely on the news so they know what’s going on in world events, weather, etc. However, obsessive watching of the news can create unneeded anxiety and stress in your life. I refuse to watch the news, I prefer remaining clueless when it comes to most of it because it’s repeated multiple times in short time frames and it’s never good. Why do we want to hear the negative, the horror, the drama over and over and over and over? The only time I watch the “news”, is during a specific “weather season” if something is in my direct vicinity otherwise I simply don’t watch it. If something “majorly important” is going on, I rely on others who know me to tell me since everyone knows I don’t watch the news. I don’t want that type of negativity and stress in my life. People can become depressed watching all the tragedy, bad things that go on in the world.
Watching tv, playing games online, surfing the web or even tv channel surfing can all lead to you not getting enough sleep, eating correcting or getting up and being active. These can add to stress and anxiety in your life.
Set boundaries and seek balance with all forms of media and don’t let it become a stressor in your life.
If you have a relationship with God, and even if you don’t you’ll want to watch this short video.
It’s one minute and 10 seconds in length and has scripture to help you deal with your faith during any stressful times you may encounter.
Unwelcome changes can bring on stress in a person’s life depending on how well they are able to handle the situation at hand.
It could be something from hating your job, to getting divorced, someone stealing your identity, having to deal with family member or friend you might not get along with so well, or any number of things. All these can bring added stress into your life. You need to be able to manage these unwelcome situations.
“Stress can take serious physical tolls. People under great stress release hormones and nerve chemicals that weaken the immune system, rendering them more susceptible to illness. Stress can also slow the body’s ability to heal wounds,” says Dr. Esther Sternberg, who studies the effects of stress at the National Institute of Mental Health.
Reducing the stress associated with these unwelcome situations is about controlling the things you can control.
~ Be strong and have faith and hope knowing that whatever the situation is, it will pass in time.
~ Take time to laugh and enjoy something special.
~ Take care of your body (physical and mental) because it will make it easier to maintain your positive attitude and thought.
~ Eat right and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
~ Spend quality time with family and friends doing enjoyable activities.
Stress is the emotional and physical reaction brought on by your response to events and factors in the world around you.
There are different types of stress, which I’ll discuss in the next few days. However, all forms of stress can bring on a variety of physical, emotional, spiritual and mental issues.
Nearly everyone experiences some type of stress in their daily lives. It’s how one’s able to handle the stressful situation(s) that determines the effects it’ll have on you.
While stress seems to have become a way of life, it doesn’t mean that we have to do nothing and just let it eat at us and suffer physically, mentally and spiritually. Life is to be enjoyed, not destroyed.
Contact me to schedule Stress Management Coaching. I’ll help you with stress management techniques and exercises that will enable you to manage stress and get you to live a more enjoyable relaxed life.
Welcome to Holistic Stress Management. I’m Tara Burner, certified Holistic Stress Management Coach. I’m certified via NESTA and Spencer Institute. I also took classes via American Institute of Holistic Theology and Australasian College of Health Sciences. Additionally, I’m certified with the Biblical Health Institute and Hallelujah Acres.
I’m here to help you on the path of managing stress in your life. You’ll discover how to relax, be healthy, maintain your sanity, enjoy life and be able to handle situations in your life and cope with change.
