What's the Big Deal with Stress?

We had the opportunity the past few days to get away and enjoy a mini-vacation. Rock climbing, mountain biking, bouldering, trail running ... and a whole lot of porch sitting and living room movie watching was on the menu. It was a nice chance to de-stress. So, what is the big deal about stress anyway?

It is no secret that our stress levels impact our health. Stress in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing. God gave our bodies an automatic response to prepare us to handle tough situations well. The problem in our modern society tends to be that the stressors we experience don’t have a defined end point so our stress response doesn't shut off. According to the Cleveland Clinic, long-term stress can result in high blood pressure, a weak immune system, and depression … to name just a few!

So what can we do about stress? In some cases, we can actually address the thing causing the stress. Your job is stressful? Change jobs. But, as you can see with that example, these tend to be big changes that can cause more stress in the short term. So in most cases, the only real option available to you is to address your response to the stress.

There are many different techniques and I encourage people that I work with to identify a few that they can try. What works for one person, or even one situation, may not work for another person or a different situation. Here are some of my favorites I have heard from people over the years:

Take a walk (or any form of exercise)
Light a candle and enjoy the aroma for a few seconds
Call a friend
Read a book
Take a bath
Pray
Pet a dog or cat
Garden
Think of something to be thankful for
Take some deep breaths

None of these activities will actually change the situation that is causing the stress, but they halt the physical stress response in the body so that those long-term health consequences can be avoided. And, they equip you to continue your day as a contributor, despite the challenges life throws your way.

What strategies do you think you could try?

In my private health coaching practice, I help busy Christian moms adopt simple health habits like developing a list of stress-management ideas that works for them so they can love the body God gave them and have the energy to be All In for their families.​

If that sounds like you, use the link on this page to request my complimentary Loving the Body God Gave Me Workbook. This workbook will walk you through exploring some of what scripture says on this topic. By the end you will have developed a simple first step towards caring for your body so that you can best care for the people who mean the most to you. 

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