#stressrelief Archives - Be Well Solutions

Using Meditation and Mindfulness to Reduce Everyday Stress

Little stressors can pile on each day. While it might seem easier to cope by brushing them off, ignoring them, or turning to a temporary distraction, these approaches rarely bring lasting relief or teach us how to manage daily stress effectively. Acknowledging stressors and practicing coping habits that involve mindfulness and meditation are more productive for long-term stress management and resiliency. What is Mindfulness and Meditation? According to the source, Mindful1, mindfulness is “the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.” It involves being intentional with your thoughts, decisions, and actions to formulate a more thoughtful response rather than a reaction. Meditation is a mental or physical practice that encourages the mind and body to be more present, aware, [...]

Tags: #DeepBreathing, #GroundingTechniques, #GuidedMeditation, #HealthyMindset, #Relaxation, #stressrelief, meditation, MentalWellness, mindfulness, SelfCare|

Heart Month: Exercise for Cardiovascular Health

As we celebrate heart month, we want to take a closer look at the relationship between exercise and our cardiovascular health. You might be familiar with the many benefits that regular physical activity has, but did you know it can even help prevent or manage heart disease? Let’s explore how exercise can benefit our heart. The Benefits Lower Blood Pressure. While blood pressure can naturally increase an insignificant amount during exercise, it immediately lowers as your body returns to rest. According to the American College of Sports Medicine1, “Systolic and diastolic blood pressure can be expected to drop an average of 5 to 7 mmHg among adults with hypertension with regular aerobic exercise. These reductions may be even greater among those with even higher baseline starting blood pressure. These changes occur immediately and can last for up to 22 hours.” [...]

Tags: #HeartHealth, #stressrelief, AerobicExercise, BloodPressureControl, CardiovascularHealth, DiabetesManagement, ExerciseforHeart, HealthyLifestyle, HeartDiseasePrevention, MoveMore, strengthtraining, WellnessTips|

6 Tips for Staying Healthy this Winter

Winter has settled in, and with it comes colder temperatures, more germs, and limited daylight that can interrupt our healthy habits. Don’t let your health take a back seat this season. Use these tips to help you stay healthy all winter long. Stay Active The change in season might make it tempting to forgo your exercise routine and hibernate all season, but movement is beneficial all year. It can help manage weight, improve mental health, and boost your immune system. If you continue to exercise outside, be sure to dress for the weather and dress in layers. If you would rather stay inside this season, try workout apps at home or a new class at the gym. This is an excellent time of year to change your routine and try something different with exercise. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite [...]

Tags: #mindfuleating, #stressrelief, coldweathertips, germprevention, HealthyHabits, hydration, immunesystem, nutritiouseating, outdoorsafety, seasonalhealth, sleeptips, stayactive, winterexercise, wintersafety, Winterwellness|

The Science of Stress: Understanding Its Effects on the Mind and Body

Stress is something we often experience daily. Anytime we face a stressful situation, the body automatically prepares to react. It releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that act to increase our heart rate and breathing, contract muscles, and elevate blood sugar for quick energy. These functions are necessary to help us respond in an emergency. However, prolonged and unmanaged stress can become chronic and negatively affect both mind and body. Stress and the Body Chronic stress affects every system of the body. Tense muscles can lead to soreness, neck and back pain, headaches, and migraines. Consistently elevated stress hormone levels increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. It can trigger or exacerbate respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions. Long-term stress can also suppress immune system function and cause fertility and reproduction complications. Chronic stress even affects the body [...]

Tags: #mentalhealth, #stressrelief, ChronicStress, EffectsofStress, EmotionalWell-being, HealthyHabits, HealthyLifestyle, MentalResilience, mindfulness, PhysicalHealth, SocialSupport, StressandAnxiety, StressAwareness, StressManagement|

Munch Mindfully with Strategies to Overcome Emotional Eating

During stressful or overwhelming days, it can be easy to turn to food to help us cope. We start craving comfort foods and indulgent snacks but usually feel guilty or even more stressed. Munch more mindfully with these strategies to help overcome emotional eating. Check Your Hunger As you experience a comfort food craving, check in with your hunger cues. If your go-to method of coping with stressful situations has been food for longer than you can remember, it can be hard to differentiate real hunger from emotional hunger. Take a moment to ask yourself if your body is physically hungry. Try delaying the snack or sipping water to see if the hunger subsides or continues. Also, ask yourself if your craving is for a specific food item. If your craving is specific, it can indicate emotional hunger. Checking your [...]

Tags: #emotionaleating, #foodjournal, #healthieroptions, #mindfuleating, #stressrelief, health, hunger, nutrition, wellness|