How do you de-stress? Do you get a massage? Or drink a glass of wine? Do you exercise, or yoga? Do you just veg in front of the television watching something that is entertaining but doesn’t require engaged thought?

I have recently been allowing stress to affect my health in ways it hasn’t in the past. I was told very sternly to find ways to de-stress. I used to paint but after opening this office didn’t find the time nearly as easy to carve out for myself. My son wants me to go get a massage but that just doesn’t seem to be enticing for me at this time in my life. It has been in the past.

Retail therapy has never been a way I deal with anything. It is stressful in itself so that would not be a way to take stress out of my life for sure. Stress has been shown to worsen diabetes, heart disease, blood pressure issues but also contribute to weight gain and sleep disorders.

Mayo Clinic lists three categories where stress effects our health and they are:

Common effects of stress on your body

• Headache
• Muscle tension or pain
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Change in sex drive
• Stomach upset
• Sleep problems

Common effects of stress on your mood

• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Lack of motivation or focus
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Irritability or anger
• Sadness or depression

Common effects of stress on your behavior

• Overeating or undereating
• Angry outbursts
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Tobacco use
• Social withdrawal
• Exercising less often

So I’m going to start by signing up for some painting classes today. I think I’ll enjoy a cup of tea later in the day to just take a few healing deep breaths, and try to let it go. Like the song says “Let it go…. Let it go”…