Stress has a direct correlation with heart disease, depression, and a weakened immune system. When the immune system is compromised, your body is prone to developing various symptoms and health ailments. Stress can even influence your eating habits. Take the time to assess what you need when you’re hungry before reaching for whatever is close and easy.
In honor of Stress Awareness Day, we want you to block some time out to relax and recover. Hang out with friends, watch your favorite show, head to the beach, take a hike in nature, or treat yourself to a soothing massage. You can also check out our stress-relieving tips below! These can be done any day of the week to help naturally lower stress levels.
Get Out In Nature
Maybe you got into an argument with your father in law or you had it out with a coworker and you feel like you can’t go on. Take a walk outside because studies have shown that looking at nature actually increases positive thoughts, and the outdoors help you feel more generous and caring. Perhaps this is because you can appreciate the beauty of the world.
Don’t Overdo It
One of the most important things you can do is not overdo it. What we mean by this is to have a plan of attack at the dinner table. Eat mindfully, not emotionally. Fill half of your plate with vegetables before you go for anything else. This way you can ensure you’re eating a lower calorie meal. And remember to assess whether or not you are actually hungry. Listen to your physical need for food, as opposed to your psychological cravings.
Get Some Rest
Make sleep a priority. Not getting enough rest can trigger negative brain activity, increase stress hormones, and decrease recovery time, which can hinder the body’s ability to perform optimally. A healthy sleeping pattern can help alleviate stress, providing you with the energy you need for everyday life encounters. Additionally, maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm can normalize eating habits, helping you avoid overeating and unnecessary snacking.
Relax, It’s Ok
Schedule relaxation time. Most people are so busy with their everyday life activities that they forget to schedule time to just unwind. Relaxation time can consist of anything from vacationing, looking at calming visuals, getting a massage, listening to tranquil sounds, meditating in a serene space, or even taking a walk. How you choose to relax is entirely up to you, but we encourage you to take the time to unwind.
Diet Change
Avoid caffeine, processed foods, sugar, alcohol and any unnatural substances. These types of foods and substances tend to stimulate anxiety and often inhibit your ability to handle the situation at hand. Eating raw fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, provides you with the purest form of the essential nutrients that the body needs. If you are polluting your body with other processed foods, chemicals, meats, dairy products, or junk foods, then it is more difficult for the body to absorb those nutrients. Since a raw vegan diet may be a stark contrast to what the average person is used to eating, start out by focusing on plant-based foods that include vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
