May 8, 2017

Has stress been undermining your health lately? You’re certainly not alone. Many Canadians struggle with their stress management skills. In our modern, fast paced world stress is almost inevitable. It might even seem as if stress is coming at you from every direction. We feel stressed from different factors such as work, family, and lifestyle. And with the outbreak of COVID-19, yet another major stressor was added to the mix. RELATED: Naturopathic Solutions To Ease Your COVID-19 Anxiety All this stress can take a toll on your daily life, affecting you both mentally and physically. For example, stress plays a major role in the development of many serious conditions, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and heart disease. It can also make you more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. That's why managing stress is so important for maintaining your health. If you feel this describes you at any point of time: Feeling tired all the time Irritable and argumentative Having a hard time relaxing Feeling under pressure Never finding time for yourself No longer wanting to socialize Simply follow these five Mississauga naturopathic doctor approved tips to reduce your stress, get your life back on track, and stay in control. 1: Practice Deep Breathing Practicing deep breathing is a good way to relieve stress. The best part about it is that it’s one hundred percent free. A highly recommended stress management technique, breathing helps you reduce tension and relax quickly. At the same time, how you breathe can affect your whole body. A 2016 study looking at the role of deep breathing on stress found a positive connection between practicing deep breathing techniques and stress reduction as well as overall health. When you breathe deeply, your brain sends a message to your body to calm down and relax. Through helping you focus regulating your breathing, deep breathing can help to reduce your blood pressure and stabilize your heart rate. Dr. Maria's Tip: You’ll be surprised how much better you feel once you begin practicing deep breathing techniques. To start, find a comfortable position where you can sit or lie down and close your eyes. Let your mind wander and imagine yourself on the beach or in a lush park to create a sense of calm. Gradually begin breathing in and out for about 5 to 10 minutes at a time. Focus on the movement of your body as it takes in and lets go of the air. Doing this everyday can take do wonders for your stress levels. When in doubt, book your appointment at the Mindful Healing Clinic today – we can help. 2. Exercise Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress and to improve your general health. Regular physical activity provides a variety of benefits ranging from heart health to stress relief and improvement of your overall mood. RELATED: Exercise And Mental Health - An Intimate Connection Scheduling 30 minutes each day to participate in a simple physical activity routine, such as walking, running, swimming, or dancing can help to offset the negative effects of stress that you’ve built up throughout the day. Exercise is also recommended as it offers the added advantage of releasing endorphins in the body that improve your mood. When paired with a balanced diet, it can provide even more benefits. RELATED: 5 Nutrients To Help You Reduce Stress Dr. Maria's Tip: Working out helps to eliminate stress as well as a host of health related problems. Regular exercise also prevents obesity and other health problems, such as heart disease and high blood pressure. Good physical health can help reduce your stress even further. However, it’s important to remember that feeling overwhelmed when you start exercising is normal. Any progress is better than no progress. It’s often easier to stick with a physical activity that you genuinely enjoy doing, such as swimming or riding a bicycle. You could even get more creative and sign up for a baseball team or Zumba class. Once you’ve found a physical activity that you enjoy doing, it’s time to schedule it into your day, and remember to stick with it. 3. Connect to Others It’s time to say hello to your friends, and goodbye to stress. Just the act of talking to friends and family could keep you healthier and help you manage your stress levels better. One of the best remedies for stress can often be to talk it out. Believe it or not, the health benefits of regular social interaction with your family and friends are plentiful. In addition to stress relief, it can help with your cardiovascular health, mental wellbeing, and even extend your life expectancy. Talking to others can also help to offer a fresh perspective on things. Dr. Maria's Tip: Studies show that people with a close knit friend group tend to fight off disease better than those living a solitary lifestyle. So, why not make it a priority to socialize more? You can start by setting some time aside every day to put down your smart phone and other electronics in order to spend some quality time with the people you love. Open up to your close friends and don’t hold back on expressing your inner fears and disappointments. 4. Relaxation Techniques Relaxation is all about taking a break from work to spend time with yourself, raise your mood, and reduce your anxiety. Relaxation helps to loosen your tense muscles and calm the nervous system. There are countless activities that you can participate in to help relieve stress, such as: Enjoying a bubble bath or hot shower Doing some stretches after sitting for long periods Listening to your favourite music Going for a walk or a jog Treating yourself to a massage or reiki treatment RELATED: Does Reiki Really Work? The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself and gain some much deserved relaxation. Dr. Maria's Tip: Beyond relaxation, aim to nourish your mind and soul. One of the ways you can go about doing this is learning something new. Focus on affirmations and positive thoughts. A good massage or acupuncture treatment can relax tense muscles, reduce pain, and improve circulation, which can all do wonders for the mind. RELATED: Top 5 Misconceptions About Acupuncture Meditation is another great relaxation technique. Not only is it highly affordable, it also only takes 15 to 30 minutes a day. That means it can be fit into even the busiest of schedules. Whatever you do, even a small amount of peace in your day can help you deal with stress. 5: Do something you enjoy Go ahead, take a break. Modern life is always so busy, and it's normal to get overwhelmed every once in a while. That's why you it’s important to consciously make it a point to just slow down and take it easy. Despite your professional and personal life commitments, it’s important to remember to set time aside to unwind. Protect your mental and physical health by planning on some real downtime. It may seem unrealistic at first but stick with it and you’ll look forward to these moments. Dr. Maria's Tip: It’s important to consciously set aside special time for things you enjoy. Try your hand at a new hobby to do something every day that makes you feel good, and it will do wonders for stress relief. Painting, reading, cooking, going out with someone for a movie or board games are only some of the suggestions. Learning how to manage stress takes practice, but you can do it. How Can Naturopathy Help With Stress Reduction? Naturopathy is a type of alternative medicine useful in helping manage stress naturally. More people are now realizing the benefits of naturopathy as a serious alternative to not only manage stress but prevent a variety of diseases and health problems. The focus of naturopathic medicine is to always promote wellness rather than merely suppressing the symptoms. To quote Hippocrates, “Nature cures, not the physician.” An experienced naturopath identifies and treats the underlying causes to restore the body’s normal function and promote overall health. Take the first steps to address your stress issues and begin the journey to good health by contacting a reliable naturopathic doctor. Book Your Appointment With The Mindful Healing Clinic Today Let’s face it, the stress we face today isn’t going anywhere, which is exactly why it’s more important than ever to find natural ways to reduce stress. One of the best ways to manage stress is to talk to a naturopathic doctor. At Mindful Healing, one of Toronto's premier holistic healthcare centres, we're committed to helping you achieve optimal health, on your terms. Book your appointment with The Mindful Healing Clinic today and see how naturopathy can help to reduce your stress levels today.

5 Ways to Manage Stress