Today is part two of my two-day special on relaxation tips for you to try in order to stay heart healthy.
So according to the American Heart Association, being stressed has some significant affects on your body, ranging anywhere from headaches and muscle tension to trouble sleeping and the repercussions of not sleeping. Being constantly stressed makes your body function at high gear all the time, putting extra strain on your heart and arteries, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases.
Before we get into how to deal with stress, let's talk about how NOT to deal with stress. When you're stressed, tro to avoid:
- Eating as a way to calm down.
- Drinking alcohol to cope.
- Smoking when you're feeling stressed.
- Rushing around.
- Spending too much time working, losing your good work-play balance.
- Sleeping too much or too little.
These are all ways that, admittedly, we all deal with stress in our lives. The key to coping with stress effectively is to change your habits so that your lifestyle equips you to naturally deal with stress appropriately. Here are some healthy habits that the American Heart Association suggests to deal with stress.
- Talk with family and friends. A daily dose of friendship is great medicine. Call or write your friends and family to share your feelings, hopes and joys. Try to focus on the positives- my favorite thing to do every day is ask my roomates if anything good happened to them that day. It lets us forget about all of the bad things that happened and focus on something good for a while.
- Engage in daily physical activity. Regular physical activity relieves mental and physical tension. Physically active adults have lower risk of depression and loss of mental functioning. Physical activity can be a great source of pleasure, too. Try walking, swimming, biking or dancing every day. My college roomate always danced while she was getting ready for her day. It helps you to start your day off with a smile!
- Accept the things you cannot change. Don't say, "I'm too old." You can still learn new things, work toward a goal, love and help others. This one is tough- I'll be the first to admit that. But it really is true- you waste precious moments of your life worrying about things you have no control over. Spend your time working on the things you do have control over- you'll feel more productive and satisfied knowing that you did what you could to change your situation.
- Remember to laugh. Laughter makes you feel good. Don't be afraid to laugh out loud at a joke, a funny movie or a comic strip, even when you're alone. I have a friend who tells the worst corny jokes, but they really do make me laugh out loud. It's nice to be a little silly for a minute.
- Give up the bad habits. Too much alcohol, cigarettes or caffeine can increase stress. If you smoke, decide to quit now. Check out tomorrow's entry for some tips!
- Slow down. Try to "pace" instead of "race." Plan ahead and allow enough time to get the most important things done. This is really true. When I'm super stressed at work I find myself running around and getting a whole lot of nothing done all day. Take a second to calm down, make a list of all the things you need to do, and them get to work on them.
- Get enough sleep. Try to get six to eight hours of sleep each night. If you can't sleep, take steps to help reduce stress and depression. Physical activity also may improve the quality of sleep. Usually sleep is the first thing to go when you're stressed, but I love me some zzz's and it's one of the most important ways to avoid more stress. You're body uses sleep to replenish itself, so make sure that even when you're stressed you don't skimp on the sleep. Whatever it is will wait until tomorrow.
- Get organized. Use "to do" lists to help you focus on your most important tasks. Approach big tasks one step at a time. For example, start by organizing just one part of your life — your car, desk, kitchen, closet, cupboard or drawer. I couldn't have said this one better myself- start your day with a list of things you need to accomplish, and cross them off as you complete your tasks. It's satisfying and motivating to watch your list get shorter!
- Practice giving back. Volunteer your time or return a favor to a friend. Helping others helps you. Share your talents with others!
- Try not to worry. The world won't end if your grass isn't mowed or your kitchen isn't cleaned. You may need to do these things, but today might not be the right time. Things will wait for you. Cut yourself some slack. We all tend to think we are super heroes, but we're only human, and what doesn't get done today will get done tomorrow.
Hopefully this helps you to deal with stresses in your life! Share your coping mechanisms by leaving a comment on today's entry!
From my heart to yours,
Red
When I'm feeling stressed I like to make art in whatever form engages me at the time...it could be dance or painting or my favorite creating things out of recycled material. Driving around singing really loud also works well for me.
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