November 3rd is a reminder for you to breathe, embrace peace, and take care of your health and well-being.
Although we naturally look for ways to be comfortable, content, and worry-free, sometimes stress can creep up on us. That's why your daily habits and your mindset are important.
What you do influences how you become stressed, react to that stress, and eventually overcome that stress.
Stress can come from any aspect of your life and varies depending on the person and lifestyle. It's important to know that stress comes in all shapes and sizes and can come when you least expect it. Knowing this can motivate you to implement daily practices to help promote positive health.
What can we do to minimize stress and overcome it?
Breathe
Trust us, we’ve been there. Before a class presentation, an exam, or an interview it can be difficult to breathe normally. Whenever you feel your “flight or fight” mode kicking in that makes your heart beat faster amongst other reactions, take long, slow, deep breaths. While doing this, let your mind wander away from the situation that is making you stressed.
Mindful Meditation
Research suggests that meditation truly helps overcome anxiety and depression. It never hurts to slow down, stop, and meditate. It's easy to get caught up in our thoughts whether it's thinking about moments that just happened, occurred in the past, or of what will happen next. You are in control of your thoughts, which means you are also capable and strong enough to kick your stress to the curb!
Healthy Diet
Have you ever heard the phrase, "You are what you eat"? The food you eat contributes to the health of not just your body, but your brain. Eating fruits and vegetables fuel your body while providing vitamins and nutrients that directly influence your cognitive health. Plus, if you eat better you physically feel better, too!
Supportive Environment
Did you know that the people you surround yourself with influence your mental health? Your friends, neighbours, sports team, club peers, fellow employees, and the list goes on.
It's important to understand who you interact with on a daily or weekly basis and the impact they have on your mental health. Are you content or even happy when you see certain people? On the other hand, do you notice a negative change in your mood when you interact with specific people?
The people in your life should be respectful and caring to you and encourage you to be your best self.