Stress Management

REST is a Four Letter Word

Maybe that is why not many people know how to do it properly?

To all the volunteers and carers in the community, to the parents and guardians responsible for bringing up our future, to the teachers and healthcare workers who give so much of your time and energy into helping others and to all employees and employers who go that extra mile to help someone else – thank you – you are the backbone of your community and a splendid role model to aspire to.

But who is looking after these people if they are not looking after themselves? Do they look after themselves as well as they do to others?

To give well takes the ability to receive well – that is called balance. We all have the ability but do we meet that balance?

For many, it is easier to give then to receive and for their own reasons, this is justified. A problem can arise though, from an imbalance of giving and receiving – an energy imbalance. On the surface, this may seem insignificant, but underneath, the imbalance can begin to manifest through emotions like resentment, through feelings such as low energy and then physically through illness.

Everyone needs a certain amount of stress for reasons such as motivation, to some extent education and it can be known to save a life. Stress is not meant to last long and a healthy body has methods to regain balance and eliminate the effects of stress.

It is the long term or consistent stress that is the concern. Imbalanced stress can cause depression, dietary problems, pain and chronic illnesses.

So what to do to achieve a balance?

• Be kind to yourself, take time out and rest – truly rest. Resting and relaxation is best done physically, mentally and emotionally.
• Find exercise techniques you Love and incorporate it in your daily routine - your body needs movement and resistance to relax completely.
• Being calm and still or moving slowly in a quite place.
• Watching a sunrise and sunset.
• Being in nature.
• Just be.

Being in the present, quietening the mind from the constant chatter of remembering the past or predicting the future.

You are here now – make the most of it. Take a friend with you, be on your own or join a group – take time out of your busy life to recharge and see how much of a difference it will make.