Stress

What is stress?

Stress is your body's response to challenges or anything that requires your action or attention.

Stress can be physical, mental or emotional.

Your body givens your "signs" when it's trying to alert you that something is not "normal" and when there something wrong.

Stress usually triggers your body's fight or flight response which can affect your:

• Diet - eating too much or too little

• Sleep

• Mood

• Body weight

• Cortisol levels

• Gut function

It's sort of a domino effect; not sleeping well leads to you not nourishing your body the way it needs to be nourished when it's under "stress", hence eating much or too little (which impacts your body weight and gut function), feeling tired; some people turn to caffeine which also has an affect on your cortisol levels... see my point?

I know it's easier said than done, but we don't need to put our bodies through this..

Take tiny steps and approaches to help reduce your stress by:

• Meditation/Prayer - some people find peace and a sense of calm when praying or meditating

• Decluttering your space - this can help declutter your mind

• Plan ahead - this might not be for everyone; but if planning and organizing your plans and thoughts helps you stay focused and calm then please stick to planning ahead

• Delegate - this might be hard for a person who likes to be in control most of the time, but we should've overwhelm ourselves to the point where we are worn out

• Exercising - Movement; going for a walk or a run, or even 30 minute yoga session; finding the right movement can help

• Prioritize - YOU come first so put yourself first

• Take a break!! - there's no shame in taking some time off for yourself to relax, clear your mind or spend time with your loved ones, to recharge and focus on yourself; whether is booking a trip, going to the spa or sleeping in

(What works for one person might not work for another, it's all about getting to know your body and how it works and what works best for YOU)

Start to build a healthy relationship with yourself and with your body because if you don't take care of yourself who will?

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a medical professional