5 Ways to Reduce the Stress You Didn’t Know You Have

Posted byLisa at Micro of the MacroPosted inHealth & Well-Being, Hydration, Nutrition, Psychological HealthTags:, , , , , ,

Stress – it’s everywhere – in much of what we do, see, hear, and read.  Most of us think of stress as an external circumstance that affects us in a detrimental manner.  But we can have a lot of self-inflicted stress, as well, that can be just as harmful.

In a past post (Nature Interrupted), I addressed the idea of stressors that we don’t normally consider.  These include matters that deprive our body’s cells of what they need for normal functioning: inactivity, too little time in Nature, being a night owl, poor eating habits, dehydration, and time in unsuitable environments, whether at work or home.  And stress within a biological system, although it may go unrecognized, affects the entire human organism.

To reduce the stress you might be placing on your body, I’d like to offer a few suggestions.  I realize making change is not easy, so I’d recommend trying one of these once or twice a week.  In the words of the 70’s musician Robert Parker, A little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing.😊

  1. Take yourself on an active Nature date.  Research parks, trails, Nature preserves, and the like in your area and visit one to walk, run, cycle, do yoga, or practice Tai Chi.  This idea is borrowed from Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way, in which she proposes Artists Dates for sparking imagination and playfulness. When deciding where to go, Cameron writes, ask yourself ‘what sounds fun?’  You already know how much better you feel when you exercise; it makes your cells happy.  And an article in Science Daily explains that even 5 minutes of outdoor exercise boosts mental health.
  2. Go to bed earlier.  Our biorhythms have been tied to earth cycles since humans first appeared on the planet.  Burning the midnight oil is a modern expression often used as praise for one who works late into the night in the name of achievement.  But getting your sleep and wake cycles more closely aligned with the movement of the sun can help you achieve cellular rejuvenation, preventing premature aging, disease, and early death.  I’d say that’s more important, wouldn’t you?  (For more on this idea, check out this post.)
  3. Cook or make a healthy smoothie.  On a regular basis, refrain from restaurants & processed foods to try a new, healthy, easy-to-prepare recipe. This not only loads your cells with nutrients & helps diversify your gut’s microbes, it also ensures your creations are infused with love.  I have read that food preparation can be a spiritual practice, and your love & attention instills home preparations with benefits for the eater’s body, mind, & spirit. This is probably not the case at your local restaurant, and certainly not with food manufacturers. 
  4. Drink fruity water while soaking in a tub with Epsom salt.  Slice up a lemon or lime and drop into a big glass of water for sipping as you soak your feet – or your entire body – in a bath with this magnesium compound.  The citrus minerals and the magnesium in the bath contribute to deeply hydrating your cells.  And since water is needed for each one of the billions of chemical reactions occurring in your body each second, this is an act of profound self-generosity.
  5. Visualize a more positive life.  If you’re not loving your job, home, the state of your health, or your relationship, take some time to visualize in great detail a better situation.  An article in Psychology Today refers to visualization as a mental rehearsal used by such sports greats as Jack Nicklaus, Muhammad Ali, and Tiger Woods.  Over the years, I’ve read about “miraculous” physical healings occurring using this method, as well. Seeing, even in our mind’s eye, is believing, and our biology responds accordingly.

Unlike much of the stress in our external world, we can control many of our internal biological stressors.  Becoming mindful of the ways in which we can avoid inflicting harm on our personal organism can help our cells, and therefore our bodies, reach a higher level of being.

Blessings for Less Stress,

Lisa

The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.

58 thoughts on “5 Ways to Reduce the Stress You Didn’t Know You Have”

  1. Number one is my favorite stress-reducer although when it’s this hot, it’s not nearly as much fun! I also generally start my day with the juice of half a lemon in warm water, although obviously not during a bath. 🙂 I used to use visualization when I coached high school volleyball. It’s been proven that if you visualize an action, the muscles you would use are actually used and neural pathways set up. This is also helpful if someone has a broken arm, for instance, and can’t actually lift.

    Happy Independence Day weekend, Lisa. ❤

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    1. Hey, Janet! Has your area been getting any rain? We’ve had intermittent rain as well as 2 hailstorms in the past week! I did not know you coached volleyball. That is so cool! (Even cooler that you used visualization with your kids.) Enjoy your holiday weekend, too! 🌞

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  2. The proof that your words have an impact on me is the fact that when I see your name the first thing to do is grab my
    water bottle! I like and agree with every word of your post, Lisa. Thank you.

    Joanna

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  3. Ugh..so you’re saying I have stress I didn’t know I had along with the stress I *know* I have.. :). Excellent advice, extra sleep makes a big difference for me. Also, thank you for the reminder on fruity water!

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  6. As I was looking at your picture of Izzy the cat, I remembered how petting my cat Pete used to relax me. Unfortunately, I found out that I am allergic to cats so I lost that option.

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  8. Amen! You can go to a store and find 50 products for a cold, but they haven’t manage to put nature in a bottle yet – come to think about it, might be a good thing they haven’t. Some things in here I know I could use more of, but like you said, baby steps. I didn’t see ultra marathons listed – that pretty much removes all the stress out of me by the end (both races and all the training) – course that’s because there isn’t anything left in and not even sure what my name is by the end, but that is a different story all together. Thanks for the healthy reminders.

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    1. Hey, Brian, I think you’re right – it’s a good thing Big Pharma hasn’t figured out how to bottle Nature. They might find a way for us to be at their mercy even more! My climbing sounds a lot like your marathoning. After each time I go, I am utterly spent, but with adrenaline and endorphins to spare. We are blessed we have found something we love so much that is so good for us! Have a fun and safe weekend! 🌞

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  9. For us, it’s a given: We must get out into nature at least once a week – it certainly makes a difference to our minds and bodies! Sometimes it’s a strenuous walk, but other times just a slog … doesn’t matter how, but get out in nature! Oh, and I like the fruity water in an epsom salt bath ☺️. Thanks for great tips Lisa – I’m certainly going to try (more) of these!

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      1. Oh yes, I remember one day on our Camino in Portugal, we booked into a hostel (with a bath) and the owner brought me some Epsom salt … she was adamant that I would feel better after I bathed in it … and she was right 😊.

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  11. Thanks for liking my post and Appreciating it. And your post and the pictures. Its a Very colourful and yummy pictures of a pasta dish. I have got hungry and going to make one like that myself 🙂

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  13. Wonderful! I’m destressed just reading this great post! My copy of Julia Cameron’s book fell to pieces after so much use, some years ago. Do I need a new one? Umm? Point 4 is where I let myself down! Have a wonderful weekend 🌹😊🙋‍♂️

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    1. Hi, Ashley, thanks for taking the time to comment on my post! Julia Cameron is an amazing creative, right?! Ooooooh, hydration helps everything! In fact, I’ve read that dehydration can cause, among a myriad of other problems, back pain! Happy weekend to you and your resilient bride, as well! 😊🌞

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  16. My cat’s name is Izzy, too. Short for Isidore. 🙂 Izzy is adorable (if that’s him pictured above). As for stress, my favorite is to walk in nature and geocache, but the ticks in NY State are stressing me out these days! I really enjoy your writing.

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    1. Hi, Suzanne, thanks for making contact! My Izzy’s full name is Isabella. Her name couldn’t be more perfect, because she truly believes she is the queen and I am her humble servant! I am always afraid of ticks in NY, as well. Years ago, I lived & worked at Omega Holistic Institute in Rhinebeck for 7 months, and I may have gone hiking twice the whole time. And my life partner was bitten by a tick while working outside there and had to take several weeks of antibiotics for lime disease. Thank you for your kind compliments. I’ll check out your blog as well. Happy 4th! 🌞

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      1. Queen Isabella! That’s sweet. My Izzy rules the house as well. 🙂 I’m familiar with the Rhinebeck institute, although I’ve never been. I do love Bard though, and we recently went to the air show in Rhinebeck, which was unexpectedly great. Such a shame with the ticks because I’ve really enjoyed geocaching lately. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  19. Such a wonderful post! 🙂 These are all great ways to alleviate stress and feel better. As you say, a little bit goes a long way. Each positive step makes a difference. Thank you for sharing these inspiring tips. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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