Are you letting stress run your life? Are you willing to take a moment to look at the entirety of your life, see where you are out of balance and what could bring you back to a more balanced state of living so that your stress levels can decrease?

Stress truly is not the “bad guy”. Stress is a way that our body is telling us that things are out of balance. Think of a car dashboard that has warning/indicator lights. If the car is low on gas that light comes on.  If the tires are deflated that light comes on. If the oil is running low that light comes on. If your seat belt is not fastened that light comes on. If the engine light is on there could be several things to check on your car. None of these indicators are bad, they are just telling you something needs attention. If you ignore these indicator lights, the car can stop functioning properly and all sorts of problems can arise.  This is the same with our body.  If we are not paying attention to what our body is telling us or ignore the stress without doing anything about it, chronic stress can kick in and all sorts of problems can arise within our body. Problems such as, not sleeping well, having a compromised immune system, muscle tension, nerves on edge, headaches, overeating, lack of appetite, cravings, digestive issues, just to name a few.  The good news is we can learn to pay attention to the stress indicators and do something about them before it becomes chronic.

So, what will you do about the stress indicators that are present in your life right now? There are options. There are steps that you can take. You can be proactive about your stress. Rather than ignore it and let the car just fall apart, let your life just fall apart. You are worth it.

Take some time to find out what area is out of balance. Look at your life as a wheel. Each person’s wheel will be different depending on what is of most importance to them.  Here are some of the areas you can look at: work, play, finance/money, movement/exercise, eating, relaxation, friends, family, self-love/kindness, relationship, physical, emotions, breathing, knowledge/learning. Take some time to check in with yourself by asking how you are feeling about each area of your life wheel. Are you getting enough quality sleep? Are you eating foods that serve and nourish you? Are you moving your body in ways that feel good to you? Or are you stagnant? Are you giving yourself time to play and have fun? You will know what areas are out of balance and causing you stress. From this place of knowing you will have the power to make the necessary changes and the power to take the actions that will alleviate your stress and balance your wheel of life.

There are so many natural ways to help you manage stress while you are rebalancing your wheel of life.  Here is a list of 20 ideas to get you started:

1. Using aromatherapy oils like lavender, clary sage, orange, chamomile, jasmine, bergamot and rose
2. Take adaptogenic herbs that support your adrenal system like Rhodiola, Holy Basil, Ashwagandha, Eleuthero and Schisandra.
3. Supplements for stress include B vitamins, Magnesium, Vitamin C, L-Theanine
4. Foods to eat include avocado, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, broccoli, bananas and spinach.
5. Deep breaths in, feeling your stomach is filling like a balloon and exhaling out as your stomach area feels like a deflating balloon.
6. Visualizing yourself in beautiful scenery that is relaxing to you (this can be as little as 30 seconds)
7. Solution-oriented conversations with friends (not venting)
8. Take a walk
9. Jumping on a trampoline/rebounder for fun
10. Dancing to your favorite music while allowing your body to move to the rhythms however it wants to
11. Singing a favorite uplifting tune
12. Watching a comedy tv show or movie
13. Look up laughter meditation/yoga on YouTube and join in.
14. Using your left hand wrap your fingers around the thumb on your right hand with slight pressure for 30 to 60 seconds then wrap fingers around your index finger for 30 to 60 seconds and continue with all the fingers on the right hand. Next, use your right hand to do the same for all the fingers on your left hand. (This practice relaxes the nervous system)
15. Do a thought dump in your journal. Pick a particular subject that might be bothering you and write all your thoughts down. Let it all flow. Close the notebook and tell yourself you don’t have to keep it in your head. This can be very useful when you are having a hard time sleeping. It’s a way to let your brain know that it’s all on paper, it can relax because now it is time to sleep. If you revisit those thoughts, I’d like you to take some time to challenge those thoughts by asking “is that the absolute truth or is it just my opinion on the subject? Would every person 100% agree that the thought is the absolute truth?”  Thoughts create feelings. Ask yourself, “If I want to experience more peace/relaxation, what thoughts would create those feelings?”
16. Choose thoughts that feel better.
17. Clean out and reorganize a drawer or small area of your home. (You don’t have to clean the whole house – just one small area can make a physical/emotional shift)
18. Make an herbal tea and savor it. Feel the warmth of the cup, smell the aroma it is emitting, taste the flavors as you drink it. Slow yourself down to fully enjoy the moment.
19. Journal about something fun you are looking forward to
20. Every morning and evening write down 5 things you appreciate. (Make this one a habit)

If you are wanting help with creating the life balance you desire, if you are wanting help and support with implementing the actions that will bring the balance and alleviate the stress, if you are wanting help with overcoming those thoughts and obstacles that keep showing up anytime you attempt to make changes, I can help. As a Certified Holistic Health Coach, I can help you with all of that.

Timmie Jackson

AFPA Certified, B.Sc. Natural Health