Did you know that not all stress is created equal? Some stress is good - its default role in your body is for your fight or flight response: it keeps you alert, aids motivation and allows you to move. It’s when those levels of stress stay elevated that it can start to negatively impact your health. When this becomes chronic, it can lead to burnout.
When your cortisol levels are high, two things happen: your body prioritises the processing of that hormone and puts all non-essential bodily functions which are things like digestion, growth, and immune responses, on the back burner.
These days, stress tends to be longer-term because, instead of the dangers that once were ‘wooly mammoth,’ they have become things like sustained periods of angst at work. When your stress is sustained like this, the suppression of those essential bodily functions becomes sustained and this is what you want to avoid.
It is important in all areas of health to support a calm body and mind.
Let’s do a quick check-in to see where your stress levels are. Answer yes or no:
Do you find it hard to unwind at the end of the day?
• Are you exhausted even after several long, deep sleeps?
• Are you easily irritated by small triggers?
• Do you find yourself getting sick more often than normal?
• Have you noticed an increased heart rate?
• Do you feel cynical or lack motivation?
• Do small tasks often feel overwhelming?
If you say ‘yes’ to two or more of these, chances are you are on the road to burnout or maybe even already there.
A nice and easy way to stop stress in its tracks is to use the ‘stop, assess, and de-stress’ method.
STOP
when you notice signs of stress. These include:
• Clenched teeth
• Shallow breathing
• Becoming easily irritated
• Tightness in the area surrounding your belly button.
ASSESS
by asking yourself:
• What is the most important thing to solve now? Start by dealing with that.
• Did you sleep well last night? Have you had too much coffee? Sometimes knowing why you’re feeling the way you are can prevent overwhelm.
• Do you feel like you’re running on adrenaline? It’s time to de-stress.
DE-STRESS
by trying one of these coping mechanisms until you find what works for you:
• Take a short walk even to get a glass of water or make a tea.
• For two minutes, try to breathe out for twice as long as your inhale. This activates your parasympathetic nervous system and slows your heart rate.
• Nourish yourself. Look for calming, natural herbs like kava or passionflower or try the mineral, magnesium, for near-instant relief.
BePure InnerStrength is a blend of adaptogenic herbs that help your body respond better to stress. Ashwagandha, lemon balm, and rhodiola rosea support mood, brain function and relaxation.
InnerCalm, with its blend of passionflower, kava, and zinc, can be taken when feelings of overwhelm become acute, to help quiet a racing mind as well as the physical signs of a jittery mood.
