You know that annoying little ache in your low back, or that kink in your knee? The stiffness in your shoulders, the tingle in your legs, that foggy brain? Any of this ringing a bell? Oops, did I just remind you of the ringing in your ears?!
I bet I know how you explain all this away: It's tough growing old.
What if I told you it's not your age causing this, but stress?
Stress is your body's reaction to pressure and demands. When you are under stress, your body responds by alerting your nervous system and ramping up the specific hormones that increase heart rate, breathing and metabolism. Your body prepares itself for action or shuts down in the freeze response. The many and complex reactions we have to stress are there to protect us -- from tigers, food scarcity, and the need to hunt prey. So, when's the last time you chased an antelope with a spear, knowing that if you didn't catch him your family would go hungry?
Right. And that's the problem. Since we don't often run into the big stresses, our nervous systems seem to see everything as a threat. We wake in the morning feeling dread in the pit of our bellies at the thought of going to work. Maybe you slink around the office, hoping not to run into that person who knows exactly how to ruin your day: "What a lovely dress! It really hides your thick waist." We worry about every bite we put into our mouths. We walk through beautiful city streets breathing in toxins. Stress, frankly, is unavoidable, and trying to avoid it is very stressful!
The good news is, some stress is good for us. This positive stress even has a label: Eustress. (Which stresses me out because, really?? Couldn't they think of a more attractive name?!) Examples of eustress are making love, exercise, happy surprises, fun challenges. Those times when your body goes Zing! in a good way.
Let's go back to the question I asked in the title: What would make you feel better? How about lowering the EFFECTS of stress! If we can't avoid the distress and we don't have enough eustress to balance it out, maybe stress relief practices should be on your daily to-do list. Don't stress out! I'm talking a few minutes a day, in between your usual activities.
Let that sink in for a few days. Then check back here for some concrete examples of quick stress relieving practices. Meanwhile, go find your honey and explain about eustress and how you could help each other with that tonight . . .
;)
Pick one or more to sprinkle throughout your day. You may find a regular time to practice, like while you wait for coffee to brew, in the car/bus/train on the way to work, in line at the grocery store. Or set an alert on your computer every hour to remind you.
