In my Wednesday post, Smoke And Mirrors I wrote about the pitfalls of taking medication as a quick fix for eliminating the body's warning signals-- maybe it's frequent headaches or insomnia, stomach issues or back pain. Because the bodymind is a single interconnected unit, addressing one symptom can adversely impact other parts of the organism. So why not get to the source of the problem?
The most common ailments for which we take drugs on a daily basis are the result of stress. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports 110 million people die every year as a direct result of stress. That is seven people every 2 seconds! Whereas a headache now and again is not alarming, the body lets us know if we are not handling the pressures of our lives well if the frequency increases. When the body perceives its environment as threatening, the fight/flight response kicks in, flooding the body with adrenaline and cortisol. Toxic stress chemicals. As the body goes into emergency mode, it shuts down all non-essential processes, including things like growing and healing (pbs.org). Conditions caused or worsened by stress include heart disease, hypertension, impaired immune function, infertility, and mental illness.
Life stress isn't going anywhere, so finding strategies to deal with stress is crucial. In addition to logistical tactics like organizing and prioritizing, we need to connect more fully with our bodies and listen to what our senses are telling us from moment to moment. If before every meeting we sense our bodies tense and anxiety rising, this is a time to interrupt the pattern. Just a couple of minutes of aware breathing (Ready, Set...) and some gentle stretching or sun salutation (youtube.com) integrated into your schedule at key times in your day, can change your bodymind's response to your busy life and create a habit of improved health and wellness. Notice the difference in the way you feel and also your performance following this ritual. Some suggestions to manage daily stress:
1. BE MINDFUL- Instead of dulling the senses with meds, practice sensory awareness to heighten your connection to the information coming in from the environment. Take time to sit and just feel, smell, listen, observe and taste fully what you are experiencing. Mindfulness is a very useful practice that becomes a way of living with presence in your body and your experiences.
2. MEDITATE DAILY- Develop a meditation practice (Response Ability) to quiet the mental chatter and bring calm spaciousness into the body so you can become separate from the stressors and turn off the work life when you choose.
3. CONNECT WITH YOUR BODY. A regular physical regimen is the best stress-reliever (Bodymind Balance). This is not a luxury but a necessity so schedule it into your week. Mix it up. Go to the gym, take a yoga class, do a sport. Connect with yourself as a powerful, balanced presence in the world. It will manifest in your performance at everything.
4. FOOD AS FUEL- I'm a big advocate for sensory pleasures and food is a wonderland of taste, aroma and texture. But a baseline of a healthy diet is key to optimal functioning. And I've actually found that the more I practice healthy eating, the more I've grown to love the taste of nutricious food and the better I feel, the more I want to feel that way. So when I choose to have that piece of chocolate cake, bread and butter or shot of Don Julio I can really notice it in my bodymind and decide.
5. RESTFUL SLEEP- Burning the candle at both ends impacts both health and performance in profound ways. Establish bedtime rituals that signal to your brain that it’s time to fall asleep like turning off the TV and internet/cell at least an hour before bedtime. Avoid exercise in the three hours before sleep or take a warm bath. Certain foods can also promote sleep, such as carbohydrates, bananas, peanuts, figs and any other foods that contain tryptophan, a precursor for creating melatonin. However, avoid having a large meal close to bedtime, because it may result in indigestion, reflux or heartburn. And breathe yourself to sleep.
We have too much information at our disposal to turn a blind eye to our agency in our own health and wellness. Taking responsibility for our choices and finding the courage to change old habits and become our best selves is empowering! So decide that this is the week you choose to get off the medication treadmill and come back to your senses and the optimal functioning of your body. As you Mind Your Body, you will see the results reflected back in everything you do!
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