If you’re overwhelmed and feel stress levels rising, try these tips to navigate this busy time as we adjust to a new pace of life
In partnership with One Nutrition Ashwagandha
As restrictions start to ease and we return to a different pace of life, the world around us can feel busier than usual. Diaries are filling up, many are back to work and doing in-person activities, and it can all feel a little overwhelming at times. Stress is an inevitable part of life, between managing family, home, personal and professional life, but taking some time to learn about our bodies and minds can help us to navigate times of stress.
Here are some tools and tips to incorporate into your daily routine to help manage stress:
Incorporate a few minutes of mindfulness each day. Words such as mindfulness and meditation might make you want to switch off – but there is merit to these techniques that can genuinely help your overall health and wellbeing. Incorporate a few minutes of mindfulness into your daily routine – while you’re driving the car, out for a walk, or making a cup of tea. All you need to do is focus on what you are doing, take in your surroundings, slow down your thoughts and be present in the moment. Mindfulness is proven to relieve stress, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, and alleviate gastrointestinal difficulties.
Make a night time to-do list. We all use to-do lists during the day – for shopping, at work, in college. But if you find stress levels rising in the evening time, as you think about the day or week ahead, or you find overwhelming thoughts invading your sleep, then keep a pen and paper beside the bed. Write down a list of things you need to do the next day, or even just put pen to paper about the things that are worrying you. Over time, this habit will indicate to your brain that it is okay to switch off and handle those worries tomorrow, allowing you to rest easier.
Get comfortable with saying no. Just because the world is opening back up in a big way, doesn’t mean we all have to go rushing back into it. Perhaps you found the quieter, slower pace of lockdown life enjoyable, or there are parts of that routine to want to continue. That’s perfectly okay. If friends and family are moving at a different pace, that’s okay too – allow yourself to move at your own speed, and feel at ease with declining invitations if they don’t work for you.
Nutrient rich antioxidant foods are not only good for our bodies, but our minds too as they protect each cell in our body from oxidative stress and support immunity. Foods such as kale, cabbage, spinach, blueberries, sweet potatoes, peppers, apples, avocados and omega rich oily fish, garlic and ginger are all great. Take a note of these on your next grocery shop and stock up – you’d be surprised how easy it is to add a new ingredient to a winter soup or curry and reap the rewards for your health.
Magnesium rich foods can also help with the normal functioning of the nervous system, as well as the reduction of tiredness, and to normal psychological function. Try adding things like beans, whole grains, wheatgerm and oat bran to your daily routine and see the benefits for yourself.
It’s the perfect time of year to be topping up on zinc rich foods to support the body and mind. Pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, beans, chickpeas and chicken contain zinc, which contributes to the maintenance of normal cognitive function, the normal function of the immune system and contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
Fuel your body and mind
One Nutrition Ashwagandha, contains organic and vegan KSM-66® Ashwagandha root extract (600mg per 2 capsules). KSM-66® is the highest concentration full spectrum Ashwagandha on the market. One Nutrition Ashwagandha also contains the added benefits of magnesium and zinc.
It is designed to support:
- normal cognitive and psychological function,
- normal fertility and reproduction,
- normal immune function; and
- to protect cells from oxidative stress.
One Nutrition Ashwagandha is available in health food stores and pharmacies nationwide. Learn more about One Nutrition Ashwagandha here.
Note: Magnesium contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system, the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and to normal psychological function. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal cognitive function, normal testosterone levels in the blood, normal fertility and reproduction, the normal function of the immune system and contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
