Stress within the 20’th century and what you can do about it.

Stress seems to be a common debilitating effect of the times and environment we live in today. Even children are over stressed in today’s fast paced world with overwhelming demands at school and on social levels.

Not all stress is bad for you though. Some, or a little stress can be very beneficial and even essential for reaching those creative milestones. Understanding is key!

Many forms of stress on the body and mind have a very positive effect on our health and wellbeing. Forms of positive stress are exercise, calorie restriction and even fasting, mental challenges and forcing oneself to respond calmly in emotionally challenging situations or relations.

Thus, forcing oneself to respond consciously and intelligently. This is not always an easy task. Neuroplasticity is the mind's ability to change behavior and the way we approach life.

These are forms of ‘eustress’, the good kind of stress that can motivate you, bring greater focus and clarity to the mind and increase energy and performance on all levels. Thus, very beneficial in the long run and a form of armor against the onslaught of daily challenges in our fast paced world.

Bad stress on the other hand causes unnecessary and overwhelming anxiety, mental clutter and concern. This has a negative effect on our physiology especially if the body does not find a way to return to a state of coherence and rest/digest mode. Prolonged stress of this nature is highly detrimental to one’s health and wellbeing and could mean the eventual culprit to premature aging and declining vigor and the root cause of many underlying chronic conditions.

Most people have become comfortable in their discomfort. Starting at an early age they never truly experienced supreme homeostasis and soaring vitality so much so that they don’t even realize how devalued the quality of their lives have become.

Stress upon the body and mind comes from all angles. We must address this properly and effectively as part of a lifestyle choice in order to maintain optimal health and wellbeing.

What are the major stressors?

· Sleep deprivation caused by anxiety

· Poor circadian rhythms caused by staying up too late at night watching TV or social media etc.

· Bad choices in diet such as the overconsumption of added sugar and salt in processed foods

· Pollution of the air as well as noise factors in your environment

· Drugs and stimulants that creates a physical and mental dependency

· Family and work relationship stress and how those interact and influence one another.

Practical Solutions

Long term stress can put unwelcomed strain on the body and mind causing inflammation and disease. Not being able to switch back into rest and digest mode can put strain on the adrenal glands eventually leading to adrenal fatigue and thus disrupt the nervous system's functionality.

This is why it is vital to find ways to de-stress and maintain a balance in one's living as much as possible.

Fortunately for us, there are Solutions, simple enough to implement by anybody, anywhere and at any time.

1. Sufficient sleep restores the body and mind spontaneously on its own.

2. Oxygenate with conscious breathwork and breathing practices.

3. Hydration (water and food) and oxygenation (breath and exercise) are the foundations of health and wellbeing, as is sufficient quality sunshine and spending adequate time in nature.

4. Moving and exercising a few minutes at a time throughout the day can easily restore and reduce stress effectively. A little goes a long way.* (micro workouts)

5. A healthy gut supports the production of chemicals like serotonin, the happiness hormone, that will also affect your mood and willingness to be more conscious of your relationship with food and eating.

6. Include an abundance of adaptogens within your daily routine in the form of herbal tea's, powders, condiments, mushrooms or supplementation.

The solutions are all basic to our day to day living. Becoming more mindful of them will help you refine and empower these simple measures to promote a healthier and more solid foundation in your immunity and vitality. Enabling you, through consistent effort to become more resilient in times of high stress.

Empower yourself and expand your awareness by investing time in your health and longevity.

One small step in the right direction is better than doing nothing at all.