Stress is ubiquitous. In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become normalised to the point that we wear it like a ‘badge of honour’. It can loom over us as we try to navigate busy roads or creep into our bed at night if we can’t mentally shake the overwhelm from a tough day at work.
How can we tell if we are stressed?
Stress can affect the whole body. This means it can manifest in many ways, both physically and mentally. Traditional signs of stress include nervous tension, irritability, fear and anger but can also present less conspicuously as:
- Low energy
- Low concentration
- Disrupted sleep
- Nervous and muscle tension
- Digestive issues
- Dissatisfaction with the things you usually enjoy
Now that you know what stress looks and feels like, how can you start managing it healthily? Nip stress in the bud by implementing our top four strategies below!
1. Meet your sleep needsStress and sleep are tightly linked. In a vicious cycle, stress can interrupt our sleep quality and quantity, whilst poor sleep can exacerbate our stress levels. Concerningly, only 4 out of 10 Australians are getting adequate sleep[1]. Try and get 7-9 hours of shut eye each night.
2. Exercise your vocal cordsHumming, singing and chanting can help stimulate the vagus nerve, a key modulator of the nervous system responsible for relaxing the body and bringing it back to balance especially after a stressful event. There is proof in the pudding as science shows it can help with our resilience to stress[2]. Consider this your prescription to crank up the stereo and belt out your favourite tunes!
3. Practice ‘earthing’‘Earthing’ is the practice of making direct bodily contact to the earth’s natural and subtle electric charge, an activity that can influence the bioelectrical balance of the body. Research shows it can increase overall wellbeing, improve mood and lessen physical pain[3],[4]. Spending time barefoot outdoors in contact with natural conductive surfaces like grass, stone and sand is a great way to practice earthing.
4. Try medicinal herbsRhodiola, Ashwagandha and Licorice have a long history of use for stress. Rhodiola is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine (WHM) to enhance mental and physical stamina and relieve the symptoms of stress such as weariness and fatigue. Ashwagandha is traditionally used in Ayurverdic medicine to support the nervous system and promote vitality whereas Licorice is traditionally used in WHM to support healthy adrenal gland function. Herb of Gold Stress Ease provides a blend of these herbs that work in harmony to support a healthy stress response in the body.
[1] Economics, D. A. (2017). Asleep on the job: Costs of inadequate sleep in Australia. https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/files/Asleep_on_the_job/Asleep_on_the_Job_SHF_report-WEB_small.pdf
[2] Kok, B. E., Coffey, K. A., Cohn, M. A., Catalino, L. I., Vacharkulksemsuk, T., Algoe, S. B., ... & Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). How positive emotions build physical health: Perceived positive social connections account for the upward spiral between positive emotions and vagal tone. Psychological Science, 24 (7), 1123-1132.
[3] Ober, C., Sinatra, S. T., & Zucker, M. (2010). Earthing: the most important health discovery ever? Basic Health Publications, Inc..
[4] Chevalier, G. (2015). The effect of grounding the human body on mood. Psychological Reports,116 (2), 534-542.
