|
I was inclined to focus
this edition’s column on stress after some friends inspired
the idea. It happened during band practice (yes, I play in a band
for fun) when we were attempting a new song, and we didn’t
all quite see things eye to eye. It was then that I realized how
many people out there probably get really stressed out on a daily
basis and either don’t realize it, or don’t know what
to do to alleviate it. Both are bad news.
Small amounts of stress can be beneficial and healthy for us—it
aids in bringing out things like ambition, motivation, and persistence.
It can drive us. But when the delicate balance between healthy
stress levels and dangerous stress levels favors the dangerous
side, problems can arise. Too much stress can lead to headaches,
high blood pressure, stroke, and even heart attack. And I’m
just naming a few of the problems it can cause. It is important
to be able to recognize these signs before they become dangerous.
Some symptoms to indicate that you may suffer from too much stress
are difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, racing pulse, headache,
or a feeling of being overwhelmed. These are just some of the
more obvious. If you think your stress levels are dangerously
high, I advise you to see your doctor. However, if you feel your
stress levels are still within a manageable level but don’t
want them to get out of control, some simple lifestyle changes
coupled with exercise may help.
For starters, take a look at what you put into your body. A lot
of people tend to consume too much coffee. While this can actually
be beneficial if taken in small quantities, it can also act as
a catalyst that can lead to more serious problems like heart palpitations,
even heart attack, in a person suffering from too much stress.
So take a look at the amount of coffee you drink on a regular
basis and decide if it is indeed too much. If so, make some adjustments.
The amount of sleep you get per night also affects your stress
levels. Typically, stressed out people often feel there is simply
not enough time in a day, and constantly push themselves to do
more. This day-to-day feeling of falling behind only adds to their
ever increasing stress levels, usually culminating in sleep deprivation
in order to accomplish more of the "I have to’s"
as I call them, instead of the "I choose to’s".
Remember, you have choices in life. I try to never use the phase,
"I have to" because more times than not, I don’t
have to, I’m actually choosing to.
Another tip is to find an outlet for your stress. Not everything
you do in your life has to be productive, it’s okay to do
things simply because you want to, or because they’re fun.
Music is a huge release for me, but in addition to that, I devote
a lot of my time to sports. I suppose I didn’t start out
participating in sports to alleviate stress, but I do notice that
when I can’t do them on a regular basis (like when I fractured
my foot), my life feels out of balance. I enjoy devoting time
to Jiu-jitsu, mountain biking, hiking, weight lifting, and I recently
started surfing, or attempting to surf anyway, I’m still
learning. The point being that sports really helps to reduce my
stress levels. Also, it can be a great way to spend quality time
with friends and loved ones if you can get them to participate.
That way, you are helping them as well as yourself to increase
the quality and longevity of your lives. Most likely, no matter
where you live or what you do, there is time enough in a day for
yourself; you just need to rearrange your priorities.
Melissa Allen is a certified
personal trainer, Blackbelt & fitness consultant, as well
as the owner of Optimum Condition— personal fitness training
and kickboxing instruction. She is a regular columnist with various
newspapers and welcomes input from her readers. Please contact
her with any questions or comments that you may have by calling
(619) 252-4993, email her at Opticondit@aol.com, or visit her
website at www.optimumcondition.com. |
