It’s the last day of August, which means September and the fall are literally around the cornor. This means different things for different people – back to school, back to work, more hectic schedules, and no more long, lazy days in the sunshine. But don’t forget – fall is beautiful, too, as long as the stress and busy-ness doesn’t wear you down! Before the stress of impending deadlines and busy days overloads your body, take some actions now and enjoy your fall as much as your summer.
As with anything, your diet plays a role in your stress levels and response. If your body isn’t getting the nourishment it needs through diet, it puts stress on your entire system, which quickly tires you out. Not to mention the extra hormones and chemicals found in many processed foods! Start your defense against stress by following a natural diet abundant in protein, healthy fats, and fiber. It will keep your body well-stocked with the materials it needs to fight stress.
Long, busy days and less sleep does more than produce bags under our eyes. It puts strain on our adrenal glands, which are the glands responsible for releasing hormones in response to stress. When this happens, we need to support our adrenals to avoid the unpleasant symptoms adrenal fatigue can cause (exhaustion, dizziness upon standing, headaches, eyes light-sensitive, etc.). We can support our adrenal glands and stress response by avoiding stimulants (caffeine, sugar, alcohol), eating more veggies and proteins, including adaptogenic herbs like Siberian Ginseng and Ashwaghanda, supplementing with a vitamin B complex or adrenal support supplement, and enjoying herbal teas like chamomile and lemon balm. Your adrenals – and your whole body – will thank you!
When our days get jam-packed and double-booked, it’s easy to forget to take some “me time”. But if we want to lower our stress levels, we MUST take time for ourselves! Every day, aim to spend half an hour pampering yourself. Whether that means taking a bath with lavender and epsom salts, curling up with a good book, meditating, praying, doing yoga – whatever it is, just make sure you do it, and enjoy it! It will restore your breathing and give you a sense of calmness.
Now for everyone’s favourite part – exercise!! If it’s not your favourite thing now, it should be – especially if you’re stressed out. Exercise releases endorphins, which help give you an overall joyous feeling of wellbeing, so you’ll actually feel better and happier once you’re done! And it’s a great way to blow off steam in a productive way. Grab a friend or put on your favourite tunes and get a move on!
These are just a few suggestions to help battle stress. Come into any Goodness Me to talk to someone for more information on any of the above tips, or to get more information on how to battle the stresses in your life.