Making Simple Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Your Stress Levels
By Liz Barrington, Natural Body Healing

If you’re always rushing around and constantly under stress at work or home - then unfortunately your health will suffer as a result.  The more stressful your lifestyle, the more your body will not work effectively in digesting food and getting rid of its toxic waste.  These toxins will eventually accumulate and remain inside the body, slowing down your organs - causing disease and health problems. 

Here are some small changes to your lifestyle that will help reduce your stress levels considerably. 

• Change to a well-balanced (preferably natural/organic) diet:

• Stabilise your blood sugar levels by eating 5 or 6 smaller, wholesome meals throughout the day.  Avoid caffeine, sugar, artificial sweeteners and salt which play havoc on your entire glandular system.

• Eat high quality protein such as fish, chicken, soya, pulses, beans, spirulina and eggs and reduce your consumption of red meats and dairy.

• Eat plenty of high-fibre whole-grains, beans, fresh fruit and vegetables.  Make your own delicious fresh smoothies and fruit juices each morning to start the day.

• Eat ‘natural’ foods rich in important vitamins and minerals and avoid processed foods.

•  Seriously REDUCE your alcohol consumption (1-2 small glasses/day maximum), and other stimulants in your diet such as tea, coffee, chocolate and fizzy carbonated drinks.

• Take these important Daily Supplements: Multivitamins & Minerals, Antioxidant complex, Essential Fatty Acids: Omega 3 and Omega 6, Vitamin C, Probiotics and Vitamin B Complex. To order the highest-quality natural supplements at 15% discount online, please click here.

• If you regularly feel stressed, there are some great combination supplements from Nature’s Sunshine called ‘Nutri Calm’ which quickly helps calm the body.  For more information, please click on Supplements to Support the Nervous System.

• Be relaxed at mealtimes, sit down, eat slowly and chew your food properly to aid digestion.  Always eat breakfast and aim to eat a small evening meal by 7.30pm at the latest. 





• Detox yourself regularly, making sure you drink at least 4 pints of filtered/mineral water a day (and avoid tap water).  Regular ‘cleanses’ are essential if you’re looking to de-stress your body and keep healthy.  Click here for more information about detoxification.  Also drink plenty of ‘calming’ herbal teas such as camomile, green tea, peppermint, ginger and liquorice. 





• Try to stop smoking and avoid social drugs completely – they’re not healthy for you, or for those around you!





• Exercise moderately 2-3 times a week to reduce stress and improve circulation of your blood and lymphatic systems.  Yoga, pilates, tai chi and meditation are all great for relieving stress.  Breathe deeply and slowly whenever you feel anxious to help calm your body.  Get some fresh air and go for good long walks in the countryside – feel closer to nature.
  
  

• Get at least 7-8 hours of good quality sleep each night.  Listen to relaxing music, burn a candle or incense, or even read a book to help calm the mind before you go to bed.  Avoid watching TV or working on your computer just before bedtime.





• Relax and unwind in the evenings and at weekends – listen to ‘calming’ music.  Make time for you, pamper yourself – have regular aromatherapy body and foot massages, Indian head massages, manicures, pedicures, treat yourself to a reflexology treatment.  It’s important for you to take regular time out to relax!





• Make the most of your recreational leisure time.  Get away from watching the TV every night and regularly socialise with friends and family; take frequent holidays or short-breaks; explore and do different things - start a new hobby to boost your self-esteem, take up singing or dancing lessons, learn to play a musical instrument; lose weight; keep fit – make time to enjoy yourself, make new friends and have FUN!





• Be strict with yourself and make sure you leave work on time.  Only work late occasionally, if absolutely necessary.  This will ensure you get a healthy work/family/leisure balance in life.





• Surround yourself with friends and family, positive people who you enjoy being with – be HAPPY!  Laughter is one of the greatest stress relievers around!





• At the beginning of the week, make a list of actions you’d like to realistically accomplish and then tick them off as you complete them.  You’ll have a real focus and feel a great sense of achievement by the weekend.





• Take an optimistic approach to future ‘stressful’ situations.  Utilise positive visualisation techniques to help calm your mind.  For example, imagine you’re on a relaxing, exotic island - experience the sounds, the sights and the smells – and see how relaxed it makes you feel.  Think of this feeling of ‘calmness’ whenever you’re in a stressful situation.





• If you don’t like shopping when it’s busy or standing in shop queues, go and do your shopping at quieter periods throughout the week to avoid any unnecessary stress.





• Evaluate your home, sleep and work environment – are they making you ill?  Switch off mobile phones and WiFi Routers at night and keep all electrical appliances away from your head/bed headboard area  - their frequency emissions seriously stress the body!  If you live in close proximity to high-voltage power cables or mobile phone masts; if you're exposed to industrial fumes or perhaps farm chemicals; or you work in an industry with exposure to high toxic chemicals such as building, plumbing, cleaning, printing, hairdressing; this could be affecting your health. If this is the case, take action and make necessary changes which could involve moving away or changing jobs.
  
  

• Everything has to evolve – so chill out!  Embrace and readily accept any unplanned changes in your life.  Don’t dwell over the past – start looking forward, be flexible and optimistically plan for the future.  Always be open to new challenges and experiences – you never know where they may lead!
  
  

It’s all about putting your life into perspective, taking responsibility and looking after yourself to make sure you reduce your stress levels.  At the end of the day, your own health should be your highest priority, because without good health, you may not be able to fulfil your own personal dreams and aspirations. 

If you’re more relaxed and you’ve got more balance in your life, you’ll become much healthier and happier.  You only have one body, which has to last a lifetime - so remember to look after it.

The above information should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional.

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