5 WAYS TO MAKE STRESS WORK FOR YOU!
I don't know about you, but anytime I hear how bad stress is and that we all should lower our stress levels, I start panicking. Ironic process theory, also known as the WHITE BEAR PROBLEM, suggests that "deliberate attempts" not to think about something make it more likely that you will. Constant reminders of how detrimental stress is for our well-being make it harder to focus on anything but stress.
The truth is, it's not the stress that is detrimental to our well-being, but our PERCEPTION of it. At the end of the day, you may not be able to change your circumstances immediately, but you can use the tips below to change how you view it.
NOTICE IT AND STATE OUT LOUD WHAT YOU ARE FEELING - this removes you from the situation and puts you in the observer's seat, and you are practicing mindfulness!
BE PREPARED - if you ever feel that your significant other, a child or a co-worker is a little more annoying than usual - watch those sugar spikes! Insulin spikes and low blood sugar mimic feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. You know yourself better than anyone, so if you get ravenous at 3 PM, have a healthy snack at 2:45. Just like it's easier to put gas into your car before your bucket is completely empty, as opposed to being stuck in the middle of nowhere with an empty tank, you would fare better if you maintained stable blood sugar and had nourishment before the point of no return. Here are some examples of healthy snacks – think balanced:
BANANA BREAD I use tigernut flour instead of almond flour and cacao powder instead of tapioca. I have also used ghee instead of coconut oil. I bake in muffin cups. My son loves this for breakfast or snacks.
WALNUTS or any other nuts, I love toasting them for added flavor. Try a pecan with a date; that combo tastes like caramel.
PUMPKIN SPICE TEA WITH GHEE - I put a teaspoon of ghee for extra decadence. Don't get me started on the benefits of ghee.
BRING YOURSELF BACK TO THE PARASYMPATHETIC STATE or the opposite of "flight or flight."
LEFT NOSTRIL BREATHING - anyone who knows me knows that I'm obsessed with alternate nostril breathing. When I'm stressed or need to focus, that is the quickest way to get back to feeling calm. I close my right nostril and breath through the left nostril.
LISTENING to BINAURAL BEATS or TUNING FORKS can be very beneficial. Both can easily be found on YouTube or use the links I provide.
BOUNCING ON A YOGA BALL - think of a fussy baby suddenly smiling after being put in a bouncer. Not only is the repetition of the same slight movement is calming, but it will also strengthen your legs and butt, and it doesn't feel like a workout but a relaxation technique. Synchronize your breath to the movement for bonus points!
MOVE YOUR BODY Anytime you feel yourself getting annoyed at something or someone (yet another urgent email, for example), run in place for 60 seconds and then do one-two punch or jumping jacks for 30 seconds. Put that adrenalin to good use! If you can do two more sets, great! If not, take five deep breaths - in for four, hold for four, out for four and hold for four. Just remember - it's either "rest and digest" or "fight or flight."
MAKE IT YOUR FRIEND - "keep your friends close but enemies closer" (another one of my Russian sayings). Stress is just alerting you to something you should be aware of. It's trying to help you, sort of! See if you can use it to benefit you. Get creative! For example, I get stressed when I have too much on my "to-do" list, so I now practice doing nothing for 5 minutes. I sit and stare at my to-do list. It's extremely hard at first as I want to jump and get started, but I set a timer and sit and notice what I'm feeling. It gets easier with practice. Remember that any victory over anything will train that "muscle" for future conquests.