3 Steps to manage stress.

Stress is a highly used word theses days although most people will say they are not stressed just busy. Stress has become so normalised that we often over look the signs.

Stress is our bodies response to pressure. It may be due to a new experience or something unexpected happening or a loss. Stress can be emotional and physical tension in the body.

Have you ever noticed how good you feel after a yoga class. This is because the body has had time to switch out of a stress response and into a calm state (parasympathetic nervous system). Breathwork, movement and clearing the mind with meditation are fantastic tools to support your daily stress.

The most important thing to do is to become aware of when stress starts to creep up on you, maybe you notice physical symptoms such as headaches or an anxious tummy or skin break outs.

Maybe you have a scattered mind, become forgetful, short in your speech or become reactive inall situations.

Noticing theses signs is the most important part of beginning to managing your stress response.

Remember situations that cause stress will pass nothing stays the same forever,

We can find relief in remembering this lovely quote "this to shall pass".

Sometimes stress can actually be a good thing! It helps us respond and run away when there is danger or encourages our self to reach a deadline!

To mitigate stress we must build a lifestyle that supports our wellbeing so we can manage simple day to day stress. Its time to take action.

Here a three foundational steps to support you so you can cope with day to day stress.

I. Create a morning routine (in Ayurveda we call this Dinachayra).

This is the foundation to help you cope better as the day unfolds.

Rise early and take some time to be present with yourself it can be as simple as a good stretch, a face wash and enjoy a cup of tea as you set your intention for the day. Start with one thing and slowly add and change it based your bodies needs and the season.

2. Nutrition

What you feed your body fuels it for the day and effects your emotions and mental wellbeing. Good nutrition gives you energy to take on the day empowered and aware. When you become tired and overwhelm often the case is you reach for sugary foods creating poor food choices and habits begin. Take time to prepare nutritious meals with lots of plants, carbs and protein of your choice.

If your very time poor a great idea is to outsource there are lots of businesses that do the work for you creating healthy, fresh home cook meals that you can order to your door.

Eating a wholefood diet will stop the need to reach for the afternoon coffee and sweet treat. Fuel your body with nutrient dense foods and manage your emotions!

3. Movement.

When we feel stressed often this is the last thing we feel like doing however movement is energy and supports you to release built up emotion, stimulates the lymphatic system.

Its proven that movement releases positive endorphins and we feel energise and motivated afterwards!

This also supports making healthy habits around diet and supports better sleep. Listen to your body if you are feeling tired try a 20min walk or some yoga rather then exhausting yourself even more at a intensive gym session. The key to movement is to listen to how your body feels and chose a form of exercise that nourishes you rather then depletes you. Most importantly just move, begin with 20 mins a day to create a healthy habit and release that stress in the body!

Following these 3 tips will help you build a lifestyle where daily stress is supported and managed.

Please note if you are feeling overwhelming stress and you are struggling to mentally cope it is most important you contact a professional to support you during this challenging time. You are worth it.