Not to be melodramatic, but your life really could depend on it!
We’re not just talking about the short bursts of stress in order to flee a life-threatening situation. In those cases, it’s actually serving you well and potentially saving your life. It’s the chronic day-in and day-out stressors that you want to stare in the face and say, “time’s up... ya gotta go... hasta la vista, baby!”
Not only does stress suck the fun out of life, it can also suck the life right out of you.
No matter what kind of stress... physical, mental, emotional, financial, relational, toxic load from the environment... your body doesn’t differentiate, and the effects are real... all the way down to our tiny mitochondria.
Stress keeps our autonomic system (ANS) in a state of sympathetic dominance (fight or flight). Just a few of the resulting problems are: suppressed immunity, heart problems, digestive issues, disrupted microbiome, hormone imbalance, as well as the emotional toll on our psyche and relationships.
Parasympathetic is the other side to the ANS. This is where we’re relaxed, our digestion is unhindered, we can think more clearly and have an overall sense of well-being.
Some of the best ways to bring balance and mitigate the effects of stress are...
· Breathe – on purpose, slow breathing to a slow-count of 4 on the inhale and also on the exhale can help create some calm and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Start with a few minutes throughout the day and see what happens!
· Exercise – whether it’s an evening stroll after dinner or bursts of high intensity activity to burn off extra adrenaline, something is better than nothing. Find something you enjoy and will look forward to!
· Nutrition – Keep an eye out for the Dirty Dozen list from EWG and select organic versions of those foods. Whole foods are more nutrient-dense than processed foods, and a good multivitamin in therapeutic range is a must. We simply can’t get everything we need from food, especially the B Vitamins.
· Sleep – regeneration and repair happen while we sleep... don’t cheat yourself by staying up too late.
· Community – doing life with people rather than in isolation is a huge win!
At Big Dome Promo, we value you and appreciate your space in this world. Our hope is that you are able to kick stress to the curb and live a life full of joy, peace and well-being. And if you happen to need some promo or branded apparel, we’ll be happy to help with that, too!
Peace, love and health, Friends!