20 Ways to Keep Stress in Check

by Lisa Chilvers

Some stress can be positive – it helps to keep us driven to reach our goals. Asking yourself “is this a big deal or a little deal?”, and using some of the simple techniques below can help keep your day-to-day stress in check.

1. Eat magnesium-rich foods – stress can leach your muscles of magnesium. Dark green leafy vegetables are full of Mg. Not your thing? Try pumpkin seeds, black beans, or scallops.
2. Get your B-vitamins – load up on whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, rye, oats, and those dark green veggies we were just talking about.
3. Use a variety of deep breathing techniques.
4. Get a massage, or give one – we are social animals who need that physical contact.
5. Listen to Alpha music or -
6. Listen to positive and soothing music that you enjoy.
7. Laugh – force yourself if you have to. Laughing reduces your cortisol level and increases your blood flow.
8. Go for a walk, do some yoga, or have a swim – anything to get you moving. Exercise releases endorphins.
9. Do something child-like – swing, skip, reconnect with the things you love. Live in the moment.
10. Avoid stimulants like caffeine, sugar, and alcohol. These affect your nervous system and stress your adrenals – they produce a stress response in your body.
11. Sleep. Sleep is the only time our growth hormone is produced.
12. Look into a melatonin supplement – it’s a very powerful antioxidant that can help you get a better sleep as well.
13. Talk it out. Often we just need to get things off of our minds. Talking about stresses can often put things into perspective for you.
14. Make a list. When it seems like there are a million things racing around in your head, it can feel out of control and overwhelming. Write it down and see if it becomes more manageable.
15. Check out MindTools – a great job-stress management site.
16. Reconnect with friends. Spend your time with the people you love.
17. Spending time with animals is very relaxing. Pets provide comfort and unconditional love.
18. Be good to others. Small acts of kindness go a very long way.
19. Show gratitude. Be aware of the good things in your life.
20. Remember that you are in control. When you change your perception, your reality changes with it.

Lisa Chilvers is the Co-founder of Holistic United. She is a passionate nutritionist and holistic allergist. Lisa is dedicated to helping practitioners market their services and products in order to achieve their goals and grow their business. For more information on Lisa Chilvers visit her holistic united profile.

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