De-Stress & Get Promoted

Arguably, stress and tension is higher than it’s been in many, many years. This is felt not only in the US where I live, but worldwide.    In 2020, alone we have experienced a lot of external stressors from a pandemic, job loss, change in job environment (work from home), educating children from home, violence & injustice, and natural storms (hurricanes, cyclones, etc).  And in a 24/7 information news media cycle, it’s hard to escape the pounding of negativity.

Each year, the American Psychology Association (apa.org) conducts a survey study of stress impacting Americans.  It is probably no surprise, that the result of 2020 survey indicates 65+% of respondents reported feeling “very or somewhat significant stress” based on a variety of topics. 

Personal Resilience can help us navigate stress and rebound us back to homeostasis. However,  a landmark 2020 study conducted by Cigna ( https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8670453-cigna-resilience-index-2020/) found “that resilience is at risk for 60 percent of Americans.”  And, results also show that only “37 percent of full-time workers have high resilience”.

I believe you can build the personal tools necessary to tame your tension to take control of your health and wellbeing.   De-stressing has an ROI at work and at home.

What and how you invest in yourself comes back to you by enhancing your life and health.

Stress has a real and profound impact on your mind and body……which are inextricably linked.

Quick anatomy review!  

Our body’s nervous system is comprised of two main parts: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Each play a vital role in maintaining our homeostasis.

In our day to day lives, it’s very common for the sympathetic nervous system to always be on.  This means your body is in a constant “orange alert” state. This is necessary at times and keeps us alert to sense impending danger . But it isn’t meant to be “on” all the time.  When “orange alert” is your default state, you have underlying stress constantly.

The parasympathetic nervous system is our “rest and digest” system. It is responsible for the metabolic functions we don’t have to consciously think about - like digestion. 

We need a balance of both components of our nervous system.   

What happens when you have constant low levels of stress and the sympathetic nervous system is alway turned on?

You’ll experience: 

• Increased inflammation in your body and mind

• Difficulty going to sleep and staying asleep

• Turns of the part of the brain responsible for complex problem solving

• Poor mood and headaches

• Increased fear

• Loss of energy, vitality and joy

Basically, you feel like crap.

But there’s good news!  You can learn the tools and solutions to bring yourself back to a calm state. We often cannot control events outside ourselves that can cause stress but you can learn tools, techniques to listen to and care for your body and bring back your ease and increase your vitality.

Bringing calm and tools to help de-stressed you will - 

• Improve your sleep

• Have more energy

• Foster clearer, better thinking that leads to the ability to solve complex problems

• Improve your mood

• Help make better food choices (no stress eating)

• Decrease inflammation in your body and mind

Basically, you’ll feel good!

A few suggestions on how to bring your calm back, de-stress and turn UP the volume of your parasympathetic nervous system:

1. Move your body:

Exercise done each day consistently will increase your energy and boost your mood.  This does not mean - high intensity workouts every day.  Balance those with walking, jogging, yoga, Pilates, ride your bike.

2. Mindful breathing:

Our breath is an amazing tool!   Luckily we don’t have to actively tell ourselves to breath.  But we too often don’t pay attention to our breathing.  Mindful breathing - something as simple as: taking 2-5 minutes to slow down, close your eyes and focus your awareness on your breath. This get you calm, decrease your blood pressure and refocus your overly active mind. There are other wonderful mindful breathing techniques I teach my clients, but this is a great start and something you can do almost anywhere, anytime. 

3. Decrease Toxins:

We are awash in toxins - from chemicals sprayed on foods to personal care products we put on our skin.  What we put on and put in our bodies, has a direct impact on many metabolic functions.  Eat whole foods, buy organic when possible (check out EWG.org for their ‘dirty dozen”),  use non-toxic clean beauty products and products to clean your home.

4. Get outside:

Spending time in nature - without your electronic devices - is a great way to de-stress.  Nature has an amazing healing quality for both mind and body.    Aim to spend even just 15 minutes a day outside in nature. Don’t distract yourself with your device, music or endless overthinking. Instead, bring your awareness to what you see, observe it maybe with curiosity and a new outlook.  The time in sun and fresh air will also help you sleep better!

Busy-ness, stress, anxiety are part of our lives but you can learn to control it instead of it controlling you.   When you implement these simple techniques as well as the other wellness keys, I teach my clients, you will find yourself with improved energy, vitality and joy. Have you asked yourself recently — how do I feel? What do I need?

De-stressing yourself has an ROI.  

My mission is to help busy women bring vitality back to their lives so they can climb the corporate ladder, out-run their kids, pursue their passions and live a life without regret. 

Let’s chat, I’d love to see if my programs can support you to live your life with vitality and energy.