Learn How to Beat Stress
“Quiet the mind and the soul will speak”
Stress comes in many forms. From being stressed whilst being under pressure short term to chronic long term stress, our body reacts to this pressure in many different ways and it is how we manage our reaction that is key to beating stress.
Your body has many stress reactors, also known as flight or fight reactions. During a stress response, your heart rate quickens, your breathing becomes shallow and quick, your muscles tighten and you can experience a tension headache. But, by learning how to control stress, you can nip these reactions in the bud by following our tips.
Keep active - daily exercise in all forms helps to release endorphins (feel good hormone), it also controls the levels of stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline. Any activity helps. Dancing, running, gym, walking
Practising mindfulness meditation on a daily basis helps to control your breath and, by concentrating on your breath, you allow your brain to relax. Breathing correctly also help to loosen your diaphragm, allowing a proper in breath.
Begin each morning with three things you are looking forward to or grateful for. They say a positive mind and a happy smile release serotonin and dopamine - natures anti depressant.
Try and find ways to break down what is making you stressed. A plan, everyone needs a plan. Try mind mapping any issue. Simply place the stress in the middle and work out from there to solutions or improvements.
Any laugh, sing, meet friends. Bring joy into your life in other ways. Consider you have a “bank”. You can not continually take from the bank without paying back in so if you are struggling financially or with a relationship of any kind, try and find ways to take an hour off. Maybe with a jigsaw or doing something for someone else. When we worry or feel stressed, it can be all consuming. Taking time to do someone else a favour, makes us look outside our own problems and worries. It can be very therapeutic. And who knows, someone may return the favour, but don’t do it for that hope, do it to make someone happy and you, in turn, will feel happier.
Use essential oils, yes I know you would expect this to be on our list, but essential oils really have a big part to play in beating stress. Simply put, when you breathe in an aroma, the Olfactory System, tiny hairs in your nose transmit the aroma which is defined as pleasant or not. If you have a lavender oil, the cilia hairs transmit the scent to the olfactory bulb which then transmits a relaxing message to your brain. So, essential oils have a very important role to beat stress.
What is the Vagus Nerve?
The vagus nerve, also called “the Body’s information superhighway” is the longest nerve in the body and is responsible for your breathing, heartbeat and digestion. It also helps us read and react to certains situations.
It sends signals from the internal organs to the brain and activate the parasymphetic nervous system.
The parasymphetic nervous system carries signals for your body to relax and calm (unlike the sympathetic nervous sytem will signals the body to “flight or fight”).
The vagus nerve also turns on motor function in the muscles resulting in movement. Your vagus nerve directly affects the digestive system, poor vagus activity can lead to poor digestion, IBS and other digestive disorders. It can also lead to poor sleep so it very important to keep your vagus nerve happy and activated.
You can keep your vagus nerve happy by:
practising mindful breathing
humming, gargling and chanting stimulates the vocal chords and as the vagus nerve is connected to your vocal chords, this stimulates the nerve
alternative nostril breathing
cold compress to the face and back of neck
eat foods rich in trytophan ie nuts, spinach, bananas and turkey
drink cold water
Anyone who struggles with chronic stress may have a lower vagul tone, this is the strength of the signal from the brain to the body via the vagus nerve. By following the suggestions above, you can improve the vagul tone naturally.
A good sleep/wake routine is vital for a healthy, happy, body.
Give the gift of a goodnights sleep with this Sleep Wellness Gift Box
As you drift from a wakefullness state to a drowiness/sleep state, the parasympathetic vagul tone increases (calming, relaxing) and the sympathetic vagul tone decreases (less anxiety and stress). This change improves as you progress from the light stage of sleep (NREM) to deeper sleep. Sleeping on your right side also increases this vagul tone.
So a regular bedtime, good sleep habits (keep your bedroom for sleep), dark quiet room and pleasant temperature. If worries enter your head, write them down or visualise them drifting down the stream, quietly moving away.
By using our “help me, it’s way past my bedtime” products, organic essential oils of petitgrain, ginger, eucalyptus and lavender will help you quieten your thoughts, calm your digestive and open your airways.
Which essential oils heal a stressed mind and body
Essential oils have naturally occurring chemical compounds and many oils help to rebalance your emotional self. Lavender is probably the best known but Frankincense is very effective at calming panic attacks. Geranium is very balancing but lesser known essential oils, such as cedarwood help to reduce feelings of anxiety too.
We take great care to blend essential oils to harness their properties within our products. As Holistic Therapists, we have over 30 years experience of knowing which oils will be active, therapeutic and effective at helping you to relax, quieten your thoughts and feel peaceful.
Mood balancing palmarosa, geranium bourbon, lavender and ylang ylang organic essential oils
Christmas, sorry to say it in September, is not that far off and after lasts years issues with the postal service, I would strongly recommend you shop early.
We have several news gifts for you this year. We have gifts by post, letterbox gifts, a special Christmas Scents gift box and the cutest Christmas Tree aromastone we have ever seen!
Have a look through our Christmas Gift Guide, we have added some helpful sections so you find gifts perfect for who you are looking for.
And finally ….
We are taking part in the Andsotoshop Shop Early Shop Small market, come and say hello. Click the image to take you to the market on Saturday 2nd September until Sunday 3rd September.
Use code FREE DELIVERY there and on our website too all weekend
The perfect opportunity to treat yourself
September is ORGANIC MONTH woo hoo. We are proud to say that we ONLY use organic aromatherapy in our products. Living organically, eating organically, and putting organic product on your skin and in your home is the only way to heal our planet. They may cost a little more but, quite frankly, they are worth it. Knowing that no chemicals, pesticides, or damage to our big blue planet, soil, and wonderful wildlife is worth it.
““My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.””
