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| But you know it when you see it. |
Not too many people know this, but there's both good stress and bad stress. You can experience good stress when getting excited for a vacation, or waiting for contest results, or during any other positive event. Bad stress...well, everyone's experienced that.
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| Bad stress makes you hungry for expensive electronics. |
The physical effects are similar, though. There are all kinds of crazy biological processes that go on during times of stress, but most people are familiar with fight-or-flight responses, sleeplessness, higher blood pressure, and the release of cortisol (a stress hormone) into their bodies. A lot of people either lose or gain weight from times of stress, from not eating enough, to eating too much, to that pesky cortisol.
Either way, stress needs to be managed or else our bodies wear down. Ever crash after a particularly stressful event? Maybe during a finals week? After a big presentation? A huge move? Maybe you felt like you could sleep for a month, or even caught some beastly illness like the flu?
You all know exactly what I'm talking about.
Exercise can help you manage stress. It helps take your mind off of what's stressing you out, and is good for your body. Exercise releases natural endorphins (happy hormones) that make you feel better. For a good workout that also incorporates breathing techniques, which also help with stress relief, I'd recommend yoga. Even better, the stretching is soothing.
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| Even this one. |
Can't make it to the gym but want to clear your head? I'd recommend trying meditation. No, you don't have to chant or sit in the lotus position, but learning to clear your mind is a very refreshing activity. And the more you do it, the better you get at it. I used to do it a lot in college, and when I'd been doing it for a while, a nice 15 minute session felt like a refreshing nap without that weird groggy feeling. It was a win-win.
How do you beat stress?
xoxo Sarah
Oh yes. Stress. Even if we thrive on it, it can be problematic.
ReplyDeleteExercise is great. I used to treadmill for a quarter of an hour on an incline. Now, I live on a hill. lol I lift weights, too. Free weights. It helps me to focus on very basic parts of myself and move in controlled ways.
Thank you for this post. :)
Great tips! Any type of exercise is usually a big help. And you're very welcome!
DeleteMostly, I don't beat stress. I do do yoga on occasion but definitely not that pose you pictured above. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteHaha, yeah, I've done it before, but not THAT pose. Ouch!
DeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI do meditate, and I do dance exercises, plus sit-ups and pushups. No yoga for me. Stress is always challenging. I teach, as well as write, and i'm really looking forward to my summer vacation, where I can write more. I'm over from A to Z. Pop on by if you like!
I find that exercise helps me the most, too. I'll definitely stop by your blog! Thanks for checking mine out. :-)
DeleteGood advice. I love doing yoga, even though I'm still a beginner. It challenges me in a new way and I find I'm more relaxed and more energized afterwards.
ReplyDeletePlay off the Page
I'd love to start it up again, but I prefer my time in the gym. If it wasn't for my pesky love of writing, I'd have time to do yoga again. :-P
DeleteSuch a biggie in the life of a writer! One of my friends meditates, in the sun, but I prefer running. Thanks for a great post, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! I hope you're enjoying the A-Z challenge! I don't enjoy running, but I do like the way it makes me feel. :-)
DeleteLife is full of stress and sometimes it gets the best of me, but what helps relax the best is reading or swimming. I don't have a pool, so reading it is. I love my books! =)
ReplyDeleteFrom Diary of a Writer in Progress
Ooh, swimming is very relaxing! It's a great total-body workout, and makes you feel so good. Reading is awesome, too...it's a great stress-reliever to lose yourself in a book.
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