“Take Care of your Body. It’s the Only Place You Have to Live,” (Jim Rohn). In this fast-paced world, all too often we let our needs take the back seat to what others need or require of us (husband, wife, children, boss), with the end result of more stress than a body can handle. Stress is any change in the environment that requires your body to react and adjust in response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses. Stress is a normal part of everyday life; sometimes events happen to you – other times stress occurs because of what you do to yourself — all of these occurrences have the potential to put stress on your body. When the body is in distress, physical symptoms may develop including: headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping. So, what can you do to reduce your stress levels? It’s absolutely important to establish a healthy exercise regimen. However, it’s imperative on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being to take action to keep your body’s stress well-managed. The best ways to approach stress management: get 7-8 hours of sleep per night; eat a well-designed, balanced and whole-food based meal plan; spend quality time with individuals who support you or have like minds; make time for fun and relaxation; stop and breathe each and every day (just take 5 minutes for quiet mindfulness); start a stress journal (this will help you identify stressors in your life); reduce caffeine and sugar; learn to say no. While some of these tools will be difficult to implement (and you may get some pushback from others), remember that you’re worth it; that you deserve to be healthy, happy and fit; and that others who matter in your life will be better as you are taking care of yourself.
Original artwork done by my sister: http://www.elisabethkeelywilson.com/
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