How do you actually manage stress?

Last week we discussed what happens to the body when we are stressed and what can happen if it’s chronic. So how do you actually manage that? Well, we must complete the stress response cycle. Remember how we talked about how modern stresses don’t have a set end? We need to artificially create an end biologically speaking. Think of it like a switch, something has to switch off your sympathetic nervous system so your parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system can switch on. The unfortunate part of it all, rest doesn’t help you manage stress. You need to change the switch before you rest. Think of the equation to properly manage stress as: stress completing activity then rest = calm, stress reduced nervous system.

There are four categories for options for stress management. The first and most effective is movement. Think about it, how do you soothe a distraught baby? You bounce them, rock them, or use gentle movements. Our nervous systems are primed for movement to be a quick way to soothe. The next category of stress management is creativity. Research shows that creating art, especially receptive movements like knitting or simply using your hands like ceramics or painting, actually helps turn off the stress response in the brain! So get creative in whatever modalities you enjoy. Next is social, connecting with others helps soothe our nervous system (as long as they are people you feel safe and comfortable with). Last is nature, spending time connecting to nature helps down regulate our nervous systems in a peaceful way. If you can combine categories, even better! So take a walk outside (maybe with a friend!), dance with friends, take a workout class you enjoy, take an art class with others, do some art by yourself outside, the combinations are endless! Do a little something from at least one of these categories each day and I promise you will feel less stress in your body.

Questions to ponder.

• What areas of stress management do you naturally gravitate towards?

• What area of stress management could you practice more?

• How can you incorporate some stress management into your daily life?