Shorter days and holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas should make fall and winter a happy time — but back-to-school, family gatherings, and new beginnings come with their own demands which can lead to stress.
Stress affects everyone, damaging our health and relationships. Below are some stress-beating tips from Dr. Bradley Nelson, veteran holistic physician and bestselling author of “The Emotion Code.”
1. Plan ahead and be flexible about your expectations. Think about your plans for vacations and family gatherings. Everyone else has expectations and sometimes they won’t match yours. Plan for spontaneity. If you allow the plans that others have to be a part of what brings you joy, you’ll have more fun as everyone shares ideas and activities.
2. Be aware of what your body needs. This includes healthy food, plenty of water, rest and exercise. So don’t throw your routines out the window when you’re on vacation. Get plenty of exercise so you’ll feel good. Continue eating healthy. You’ll feel better about yourself if you’re really taking care of your body!
3. Decide to take care of yourself emotionally. You may need specific things such as the emotional support of a spouse, a lunch date with a friend or even just some time alone. Decide how busy you want to be — or not be! Say “no” to trying to do too much if it interferes with your health, family time or if it feels like it’ll cause too much stress for you.
4. Communicate with love. If you’re feeling stressed by interactions with others, take a breather. You might go outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air. Be kind to everyone, including yourself. Give hugs. Make sure you’re not overreacting. None of us communicate perfectly. Try to see what others are really mean, not just what they say. Give them the benefit of the doubt because it’s likely no offense was meant. Ask for clarification and react appropriately, with kindness, love and forgiveness. Some people really don’t have a handle on their behavior but it doesn’t have to affect how you feel or become your problem.
5. Choose Your Emotions: Most people have this mistaken belief that our emotions choose us; that we are at the mercy of whatever emotions we tend to start feeling. But the reality of it is, no matter what the circumstance is, we always are choosing our own emotions. It’s important to recognize that fact. You don’t always have control over what happens to you, but you can choose to respond proactively.
6. Identify and release “trapped emotions,” unresolved feelings from past negative and traumatic events. This emotional baggage can cause us to make wrong assumptions, react emotionally; it also contributes to anxiety, depression and most forms of illness. Dr. Nelson shares simple methods to release emotions that are a root cause of stress, anxiety and depression from his bestselling book, “The Emotion Code.”
Download a free copy at www.EmotionCodeGift.com.
The Editorial Team at Lake Oconee Health is made up of skilled health and wellness writers and experts, led by Daniel Casciato who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We aim to provide our readers with valuable insights and guidance to help them lead healthier and happier lives.
