According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, stress is a risk factor for heart disease. Too much stress can actually harm your health, and may increase your risk of heart disease. Researches do not know exactly what the relationship between stress and heart disease is, however it has been shown that “some people with high levels of stress or prolonged stress may have higher blood cholesterol, increased blood pressure or be more prone to developing atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries)” (Heart & Stroke Foundation). A stressful lifestyle can also lead to nutritional imbalances; if you feel stressed you may not have the time or energy to shop for groceries or cook nutritionally balanced meals.
What can you do to help decrease the stress in your life?
- Identify what stresses you: is it your job, deadlines, someone in your life, daily hassles such as driving for hours in traffic every day. Sit down and really think about what is creating unnecessary stress in your life. By identifying it, you can begin to think of strategies and ways to limit, and hopefully eliminate, the things that are stressing you. Maybe it is changing your work hours so you are not sitting in traffic so long. Maybe it is figuring out how to be more organized so deadlines stop consuming your life. Perhaps it is resolving that conflict with a co-worker so that you can move on.
- Talk to someone: search out a friend who will listen, see a therapist, or join a support group. Talking it out can often make you feel better.
- Get Active! Exercise can help you forget about your stress. Get out to the gym, go for a walk or run (make sure you bundle up!) or join a sports team for fun!
- Relax: relaxation and meditation can contribute to stress relief. Check out youtube for free mediations that focus on stress relief. Make it your goal to try one of these relaxation meditations once a week. These types of meditations give you time for yourself, which is often important when it comes to stress. Sometimes it takes a few minutes of thinking about nothing but our breathing for us to realize that often things are not as stressful as they seem! Check out Wayne Dyer for his meditations.
- Take a day just for you: wander around the zoo or a museum, go skating, paint pottery at a ceramics studio; there are many activities to do in Calgary, especially on cold days, so pick something you have wanted to try and take the time for youself!
- Yoga: yoga can help strengthen the body and mind. According the The Mayo Clinic, yoga can be an effective method to reduce stress and anxiety. They can help teach you the art of breathing, and we know that breathing is key to reducing stress. The quiet, the precise movements, and the focus on your breath can help you remove yourself from that stressful and chaotic work day. The complex and difficult poses can also help you concentrate. There are yoga studios all over the city and many have introductory passes allowing you to give it a try. Or, there are many yoga videos available online or in stores that vary from beginner to advanced yoga.
- Diet: Eat well, and often. Hunger, and consequently low blood sugar levels, can leave you susceptible to stress. Eat regular wholesome meals and keep nutritious snacks, like raw nuts and seeds, yogurt, sliced fruit, and veggies and hummus, on hand. Set aside one night of the week for grocery shopping.
- No time to cut up those fresh fruits and vegetables? Get them cut at the Calgary Farmer’s Market. Purchase your produce there and visit the food preparation booth where they will wash and prepare your food for you, leaving you more time to spend with the family on the weekend!
- Laugh! Enjoy life and have some fun!
What do you do for stress relief? Share your ideas with us to help others deal with their stress!
Article by: Carrie Dancey, RHN
