Are you stressed?
Or are you among the rare 25% of Americans who are not greatly stressed at least once a week? [A number down from 45% about 25 years ago.]
Why we have so many more people feeling stressed these days has been attributed to factors such as job concerns, crime, changing societal and religious practices, etc.
I am not sure what stresses you, but I do know that the two reasons most people do not sleep well at night are worries about their health and their finances.
And I also know that lack of adequate sleep is one major cause of stress and that stress is a major cause of health problems.
A caveat – some stress is good for us – it can be motivating. This is about that great stress that can be harmful.
Stress takes one on a cycle of – well – more stress.
The cycle goes like this:
- worry about health and money
- sleep less well
- get more stressed
- get stress-related illnesses
- worry more about health
- sleep even less well
- get even more stressed
- and so on…..
Here are 5 ways to start reducing your stress:
1 – you must get adequate sleep
How?
- going to bed at the same time every evening
- not watching TV in bed
- not having an argument before bedtime
- not reading murder mysteries at bedtime
- no late night eating – except maybe a glass of warm milk
2 – you must exercise
I know it's harder to exercise when you are stressed. So think of daily small things you can do that make your body move.
- stairs instead of elevators
- walking more
- jumping jacks.
- hopping or running in place in your house while watching TV or listening to the radio
3 – you must eat properly
4 – you have to socialize
5 – And the hardest for many – you must earn more income
To read the specifics for stress busters 3, 4 and 5 – please read my article 5 Stress Busters and return here to chat about it and the stress busting methods you use.