Five Ways to Relieve Stress while Living a Healthy and Happy Life!
Written by Margaux J Rathbun, B.S., N.T.P.
It’s been said that stress is the silent killer, and I believe it. We deal with stress every day of our lives, whether it be some small situation or something that riddles us with anxiety. I’m not going to lie, 2017 has been a trying year for me between getting married, moving, starting graduate school, and running a business, stress has taken a toll on my body. The trouble is chronic stress can have a lasting impact on our health if we do not manage it properly. Stress has been linked to contributing to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Fortunately, I have been implementing some natural ways to manage my stress and help balance my moods. Here are five ways that I recommend managing your stress and getting on the path toward health and happiness.
- Spend Time in Nature: I am very fortunate to live in an area surrounded by a beautiful forest. I’m also lucky enough to have three dogs with high energy levels! This means I have to take them for walks outside every day, helping me get fresh air and soak in the sights and sounds of nature. Being outside provides us with a sense of connection to the environment and our earth. It also has been shown to boost our mood, relieve stress, and elevate energy levels. That’s because being outside stimulates our senses with the sights, smells, and sounds that surround us. Commit to being outside at least 20 minutes every day. If it’s raining or cold, grab your umbrella and coat! You will be amazed at how fabulous you feel spending time in the great outdoors.
- Schedule time for Meditation: it took me a while to get in the habit of meditating every day. I found that my mind would race with thoughts of things I needed to accomplish and tasks that had not been completed. Once I buckled down and got into a routine, I found that meditation greatly relieved a lot of the stress and anxiety I was experiencing. When you slow down and quiet your mind, you become in touch with your inner self. Once we get that sense of being grounded, it put stressful situations into perspective. I found that once I meditated, things that were causing me grief didn’t seem so bad after all! It doesn’t take long to meditate, just spend 15 to 20 minutes today focused on your breathing and clearing your mind from stressful thoughts.
- Make a Gratitude List: I’ve been a passionate advocate of journaling my entire life. In fact, I’ve kept a journal since I was in third grade! I find that journaling at night helps me relax, relieve stress, and allows me to organize my thoughts. Recently, I’ve taken it a step further by making a list of things I’m grateful for. I find that when I take time to appreciate the things I have, it naturally relieves my stress and anxiety. Sometimes I will even write my list down on a sticky note and post on the fridge so I can see it during the day. Whatever works for you, just make sure you are writing down all the wonderful things that you are thankful for. You will realize how lucky you are and how great life really is!
- Make it Magnesium: GREEN NUTRITIONALS MarineMAGNESIUM is my go to supplement when I’m feeling the effects of stress. This product contains a natural form of magnesium that is derived from mineral-rich seawater off the coast of the Irish Atlantic. I recommend taking this form of magnesium because stress can actually cause a deficiency in this mineral, making you feel worse than you already do. In studies, adrenaline and cortisol which are byproducts of the fight or flight reaction associated with stress and anxiety, were associated with a decreased amount of magnesium. During the stressful year, I’ve been taking 1 teaspoon of MarineMAGNESIUM every day by mixing it in water, juice, and smoothies. I find that it helps me relax and also helps me sleep peacefully at night.
- Stay Hydrated: Sometimes I feel like a broken record when it comes to the topic of drinking water. But I can’t say it enough, drinking water is one of the most important things we can do to feel healthy and happy. Dehydration can leave us feeling fatigued, stressed, and anxious. It can also contribute to lethargy, depression, and headaches. Get in the habit of drinking plenty of water each day. How much water do you need to drink? Take your bodyweight and divided in half. The number you get is the total amount of water you need to drink (in ounces) every day. Get in the habit of carrying a water bottle around with you. Squeeze some lemon or lime juice in it to give it some added flavor and a boost of vitamin C. You could even add a teaspoon of MarineMAGNESIUM to really promote relaxation!