Developing a wellbeing strategy
We all want to be comfortable, healthy and happy and live a good life. This is often easier said than done as we grapple with life's daily challenges and pressures. We all have times in life where we feel good but more often than not we feel stressed, anxious or just out of sorts. In short, we feel far from well. We may also develop strategies which provide short term relief such as overeating or drinking, but in the long term damage our health.
The good news is that there is a lot we can do to take charge of our wellbeing and live a more balanced life - one in which we feel better, more resilient and better able to cope with life's challenges.
Some of the healthier steps we can take to make the most of our wellbeing include;
- Making time for regular complementary therapies such as reflexology or reiki
- Taking regular exercise such as yoga, walking or swimming
- Spending at least 15 minutes outside every day
- Reducing stimulants such as coffee, tea, alcohol & sugary drinks
- Drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day
- Eating a healthy balanced diet including fresh vegetables, lean protein
- Staying connected with family and friends
- Making time for things you enjoy
- Learning breathing exercises and meditation.
As part of your initial consultation I will provide advice on any changes you could make to improve your wellbeing.
The impact of stress on the body
Pressure and stress are often unavoidable parts of our daily lives and in manageable doses help motivate us and give us the energy to complete important tasks. Our bodies and minds are designed to cope with this fast, short-lived pressure and it generally causes no long-term harm.
However, when demands are placed us on us that continually exceed our personal resources we can experience many symptoms of physical and emotional distress. These vary from one individual to the another but commonly include include aching muscles, headaches and mood swings, disrupted sleep, inability to concentrate and digestive problems.
The reason we experience these symptoms can be found in the body’s chemistry as the autonomic nervous system prepares us for a ‘fight or flight’ response to the stress stimulus. Adrenalin and cortisol hormones are released into the body as our sympathetic nervous system is activated. Adrenalin can be useful in the short term as it raises our heartrate and blood pressure and primes our muscles to readiness to prepare us for action such as running away from the threat or stressor it has perceived. However, over time and if stress continues, the presence of elevated cortisol levels can be less helpful and have been linked to the suppression of thyroid function, cognitive impairment and disruption to digestive and reproductive processes.
Humans have a natural ability to regulate these responses through another part of the autonomic nervous system; the parasympathetic nervous system. Once this system is activated, the chemical acetylcholine slows down heartbeat, regulates breathing and internal processes which creates a ‘rest and digest’ state in which we can recover from the stimulus of stress.
However, when demands are placed us on us that continually exceed our personal resources we can experience many symptoms of physical and emotional distress. These vary from one individual to the another but commonly include include aching muscles, headaches and mood swings, disrupted sleep, inability to concentrate and digestive problems.
The reason we experience these symptoms can be found in the body’s chemistry as the autonomic nervous system prepares us for a ‘fight or flight’ response to the stress stimulus. Adrenalin and cortisol hormones are released into the body as our sympathetic nervous system is activated. Adrenalin can be useful in the short term as it raises our heartrate and blood pressure and primes our muscles to readiness to prepare us for action such as running away from the threat or stressor it has perceived. However, over time and if stress continues, the presence of elevated cortisol levels can be less helpful and have been linked to the suppression of thyroid function, cognitive impairment and disruption to digestive and reproductive processes.
Humans have a natural ability to regulate these responses through another part of the autonomic nervous system; the parasympathetic nervous system. Once this system is activated, the chemical acetylcholine slows down heartbeat, regulates breathing and internal processes which creates a ‘rest and digest’ state in which we can recover from the stimulus of stress.
Reflexology and reiki often help to relax the body, thereby activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Practiced regularly, they can also form an important part of your wellbeing strategy which can have long term benefits for your health.
