Five More Simple Answers to More Energy NOW:
In my last blog, we talked about starting your day right and other simple changes. Here are a few more:
- Make sure you’re drinking enough water. Dehydration can make you feel tired.Many formulas for ‘enough’ exist. However, it’s pretty well-recognized that we can lose up to 8 cups of fluid per day through normal metabolism. Therefore, I usually suggest 64oz. to up to 3/4oz. per pound of body weight depending on your activity level.
- Sugary foods, high fat processed foods and other junk can stress your system far more than you may know. Clean up your diet by cutting out prepared foods with large numbers of ingredients.
- Instead of sugary snacks for your afternoon pick-me-up, try a piece of fresh fruit with a few nuts (operative word here; a few; less than one ounce. Nuts are very rich in calories and fat and while they ARE fairly nutritious, they DO pack on the calories and fat very quickly) and a glass of water.
- Winding down from the day in a less stressful way can produce better sleep patterns & help with energy levels. Some suggestions: take the TV and computer out of your bedroom. Set up the ‘do not disturb’ function on your cell phone for nighttime and keep it at least 3 feet from your head or preferably on the other side of the room or elsewhere while you sleep. Shut off electronics an hour before bed. Create a wind-down routine: Have a relaxing cup of herbal tea. Use a journal to assist you; writing down positive remarks about the day’s accomplishments and quick notes about tomorrow that might affect your sleep if not acknowledged.
- Adding some relaxing music, a meditation routine or some relaxing blends of essential oils in a diffuser can also be helpful. I enjoy Ameo’s Gentle Repose, Calming Breeze and Pure Tranquility Blends.
Any or all of the above can be a good start.
Looking for Optimal Health? Watch for announcements about my upcoming programs starting in the fall.
Which of the above images is you and can you change it? What’s the relationship between stress & health?
Stress is a part of everyday life for most of us but I’m also going to argue that stress is necessary to health! “What???” I can hear you asking. I would argue that stress in your life means there are things that are important to you that are out of alignment with your views. Understanding this & taking steps to put changes in place is a key part of growth and happiness. Both of which are crucial to health. It’s only when the stressors in life are things that we have little or no control over that stress becomes an issue that can have negative effects.
Here’s another thing: certain stresses can be good & revitalizing for us as well. Planning a wedding, for example, can be a very stressful process but we all know it’s necessary for a positive outcome. Running a marathon is an incredible stress on your body, we also know there are positive aspects to it. What about mountain climbing or other risky activities? So it’s useful to remember there are, broadly speaking, 2 types of stress: distress and eustress. The dictionary defines eustress as “stress that is deemed healthful or giving one the feeling of fulfillment.” It is from the Greek eu ‘well, good’ + stress, modeled on distress. It’s such an uncommon word, my website’s dictionary keeps trying to tell me it’s spelled wrong! Distress, on the other hand, we ALL know. It’s out of alignment and something we need to find steps to rectify or it will effect our health & well-being. Long term distress increases cortisol levels which can raise blood pressure & blood sugar levels, lead to the increased production of fat and more! Yes! Stress can make you gain weight!
So part of my job as a wellness coach is helping you examine that and what you can do about it. Is there a boundary issue in a relationship? A key thing for many women who have been brought up to take care of everyone (else). Is money a source of stress in a relationship? Is that stress really a hidden power struggle with a mate? Is your body stressed because you’re not taking proper care of it some way? Are you over-stressed because you don’t take time to attend your mental-emotional well-being? Examining where the build up of stress is emanating from and choosing a response that’s more in alignment with you values will diminish the stress and bring a peace that will have a positive effect on your well-being.
For more insights call me to book a 30 minutes intro session & see if you could benefit from coaching.