How To Relieve Stress And Low Energy?
Stress is one of the natural responses of the body when faced with stressors. It could be from a work deadline, a scary medical test result, or maybe surgery.
In prehistoric times, when people were still exposed to outside elements and wilderness, stress is a natural response to any outside threats such as encountering predators and other kinds of dangers that their environment posed.
It’s a very helpful and important response to prepare the body to fight or flight. This has saved many people throughout history as this was their way to cope and survive dangerous situations. It is in this regard that stress is good.
Nowadays, this same behavioral response is still in effect which fires up your limbic system, releasing adrenaline and cortisol to activate your brain and body to be able to deal with the threat at hand. However, the problem with today’s stressors is that it becomes chronic.
In the past, whenever you are able to evade or kill a bear trying to attack you, you were able to use the extra adrenaline and cortisol needed in that situation, and therefore, you feel relief after it’s done, and the stress is gone.
In our time today, our stressors come in the form of traffic, stressful bosses, financial concerns, difficulty in managing our time with work and family matters, etc. This becomes a cycle on a daily basis which makes your stress responses chronic.
Chronic stress is when your body stays in fight or flight mode continuously because your stressors are not resolved such as financial distress or a really horrible boss who’s always stressing you out in the office. This goes on and on and your stress hormones keep flooding your system and you don’t have the right outlet to use or release them.
You may find it difficult to cope with the impact of chronic stress because long-term stress is more constant making the body confused as it never receives a clear signal to return to normal functioning. And thus, those same lifesaving reactions of the body will eventually disturb our body’s systems especially immune, digestive, cardiovascular, sleep, and reproductive systems.
Many of the most common conditions are associated with greater amounts of stress, including headaches, gastrointestinal symptoms, heart-related symptoms, skin breakouts, and psychological issues such as anxiety and depression.
There are those who may only experience digestive symptoms while others may have headaches, sleeplessness, sadness, anger, or irritability.
In this way, stress becomes really bad as it causes all kinds of health problems. Over time, continued strain on your body may lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, mental disorders, and other kinds of illnesses if not managed well.
Practical Ways to Help Relieve Your Stress and Low Energy
Here are some practical ways you can make a habit of to help you with coping and managing your stress:
Exercise regularly
Since stress floods your limbic system with stress hormones, exercising regularly would be good to be able to use them up and clear them out of your system. This is a way for your body to recover from the increase of adrenaline and cortisol.
Know what you can control and let go of those you can’t.
One of the reasons why we get stressed is the things and situations that we cannot control. We take on a lot of responsibilities in our lives that tend to overwhelm us. It is then better to get clear with the things that we can control and just let go of those that we can’t control. In this way, we can focus our energy on what really matters.
Don’t compare.
Different people respond differently to stressful situations. To keep your sanity, just focus on what you can do and plan your actions to prevent yourself from being overwhelmed. Do not be pressured when it seems to be easy for others while it is extremely difficult for you. Focus only on what you can do so it will not register as a threat that will raise your stress level.
Gain peace through meditations and rituals.
Have you been wanting to do meditations and cultivate your own spiritual practice but don’t know where and how to start? Maybe you’ve been thinking about it but with all your commitments and responsibilities, how do you find the time to cultivate your spiritual practices?
The secret to effectively beginning a daily meditation practice is to make it a ritual putting in the commitment to a consistent practice of a specific series of yoga and meditation techniques.
There is something beautiful when you see your day with awareness, ease, and spiritual connection.
Having a meditation ritual, especially in the morning, we know that we have time and space to cultivate ourselves before our day begins. It will also set a peaceful tone all throughout the day, help us improve our ability to deal with stress, and make sound and mindful decisions.
Imagine you have it every day for many years or all throughout your lifetime – and you’ve found the secret to living a happy, peaceful and sacred life despite your external circumstances.
Be grateful every day
In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently linked to greater happiness. It makes people feel more positive emotions. It helps you enjoy good experiences, improve physical and psychological health, increase your mental strength, improve your self-esteem, enhance your empathy and reduce aggression. It helps you to deal with adversities and challenges better, sleep better, and build strong relationships. When a person generally feels good, it will also improve how he looks at life and having a better perception that will help him become better at managing his reactions toward different situations.
Sit still and do nothing
When was the last time that you were doing nothing? The kind when you were just existing and breathing?
It’s not true that you have to be doing something in order to relieve stress. Doing nothing, you will free up all the energy that your mind and body has been exhausting to do all kinds of other things that you needed to do. As your mind and body are designed to keep you healthy and well, doing nothing can help that process.
Doing nothing is also an opportunity for mindfulness, it’s a kind of grounding, it helps you get in touch with your intuition and it helps release suppressed emotions. It is basically a mindfulness meditation practice. If you’ve been thinking about how to start or what sorts of things to think when you’re on it just think of it this way — it’s just doing nothing.
Stay connected – socialize and spend time with family and friends
Isolation often causes loneliness and emptiness. Being with family and friends and socializing will improve your feelings of belongingness, being loved, and better self-esteem. When you’re feeling happy and taken care of, there will be less chance for you to become stressed.
Engage in relaxing activities
Relaxing means calming the mind, the body, or both. It can quiet your mind and make you feel peaceful and calm. When you are relaxed, your body also reacts like your muscles become less tense and more flexible.
There are many ways to help calm you down and feel at peace.
- Take slow, deep breaths. Or try other breathing exercises for relaxation.
- Soak in a warm bath.
- Listen to soothing music.
- Practice mindful meditation.
- Write a journal.
- Use guided imagery. You can imagine yourself in a certain setting that helps you feel calm and relaxed.
A Prayer to the Guardian Angels for Peace
Oh, Beloved and Blessed Guardian Angels,
The world is in need of your guidance and love.
We are in chaos as we face global challenges,
There is fear in our hearts, for our family, our friends, and for ourselves
There is discord where there should be harmony,
There is a conflict where there should be peace,
There is hate where there should only be love
Most of all, our inner selves are in turmoil,
Stress, anxiety, confusion, and endless self-doubt continue to occupy our waking moments
As much as the world struggles, we also strive to live in peace with ourselves
But the days grew bleaker, the nights are colder
Like always, we turn to you for mercy and love
Today we pray for harmony to reign in all lands,
We pray that the conflicts will end and peace will flourish,
We pray that love resides in each other’s heart
Oh, most holy Archangel Azrael, Serene Angel of Peace,
Envelop us with your light and love, heal each one of us
That we might be free of anxiety, confusion, and stress
Let your angelic light show us our worth so we let go of our self-doubts and learn to trust ourselves
May you continue to guide us so we can find peace within us and with the world
Angel, with your wings, chase away the bleakness of our days
With your wings, wrap us in your warmth
You carry with you the blessings of the Divine,
And we know that you will shower us with this
We will always be grateful for your faithfulness to us.
Thank you, forever.
