Stress Kills – Here’s What You Can Do About It

Let’s get real for a minute. Stress is serious and it is something that can greatly compromise your health and well-being. I'm grateful I learned this lesson, so I can have a second chance at life.

Stress can even kill you, which is why it’s crucially important that you start doing something to stress less and relax more. Thankfully it’s easy. All it takes is making the time here and there to do something that’s relaxing and enjoyable. As the philosophy of A House With Four Rooms suggests, you do something daily to be a complete person...for your health and well-being.

What works?

 Go blow off some steam by going for a run or having a good cry. Talk to a close friend or write down your troubles in a journal. Keeping it all bottled up isn’t a good long-term strategy. Let it out and you’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel after.

It's essential to your Intentional Life to find ways to release the pressure. 

 When you’re feeling too keyed up and wired, do something relaxing. Take a warm bath, listen to some calming music, or lose yourself in a good book. It’s important that we take the time to unwind at the end of long, busy day. There’s a time to be active and focused, but there’s also a time to take it slow and unwind. If you’re having a hard time relaxing and letting go, try breathing exercises or meditation. They are both very effective at emptying your mind and letting go...this is a great way to "air out" your Emotional Room.

 While you’re all calm and relaxed, take advantage of it and get some extra sleep. Go to bed early, sleep in when you can, or take an afternoon nap. Our body and mind need plenty of sleep to regenerate and process everything that’s going on throughout the day. When we’re stressed it’s even more important to get enough sleep.

 Life is a balancing act. There are plenty of things we have to get done. There are deadlines, mean bosses, workplace dramas, too many obligations, and all sorts of things to worry about. To keep things in balance it’s important that we also make time for the good stuff. Hang out with your loved ones, meet friends for dinner, curl up on the couch with a good book, binge your favorite Netflix series, or grab a favorite treat. Do what you have to do to find that balance. It will restore you and allow you to get back to work refreshed and focused the next day.

More importantly, it will give your body and mind a break. The stress of the workday melts away, your heart slows down, your blood pressure drops, and you’re undoing some of the damage stress does to you and your health when things get too busy and demanding. Make the time to relax and don’t let stress kill you.

Until next time...

Cheers!

Lisa

P.S. Do you have a favorite way to relieve stress...leave me a comment or DM me...I'd love to learn more ways and share with our readers. Thanks!