Life comes at us at such a fast pace, it’s seems hard to keep up with all that is happening. It can be so stressful. Part of healing chronic pain and managing stress is learning to pause and slow down. Here are some helpful guidelines for you to effectively handle the stresses and strains in life:
Stress from moving and doing too much…
… like not stopping to rest. Pause and take a conscious breath. You will feel so much better. And you will relax.
Stress from not moving enough…
… such as sitting at the computer for more than 30 minutes. Make sure to give yourself frequent breaks in your day if you are sitting a lot.
Mental stress…
… such as worry, procrastination, rumination, and catastrophizing. Fear is the seat of these stresses… and lack of faith. Learn to distinguish between what you can control and what you cannot… act or let it go.
Personal relationships…
… these are where we may get tested the most
Financial stress…
…again – act or let go of what you cannot control
Eat slowly…
… enjoy your food with gratitude
Hydrate…
… we can dehydrate and not even realize it is happening. Then we get headaches and other body aches and pains, and often begin making mistakes in our decision-making throughout the day.
Laugh out loud.
Even if you imagine you are laughing, you can release stress this way.
Sing or chant…
… this releases tension through the diaphragm and helps tone the vagus nerve, the safety assessment part of your nervous system
- Walk in nature… and learn to spend time in the rhythms of the Earth
- Practice gratitude… appreciate all that you have… keep a gratitude journal
And above all… remember to B R E A T H E ……
