Making Life Easier

by sharing what really works

A new approach to stress

"Stress is a sign you need to be kinder to yourself."

I really hope that this Christmas is stress free for you all, but it’s always worth revisiting ways to deal with stress around this time. I’ve written articles on it before so this one will look at it in a different way – by using energy management. Sometimes it can help to think of stress in this way as it takes you away from trying to change the situation and getting frustrated if you can’t.

When we lack energy our thinking can become irrational and our bodies struggle to feel good and function (and usually we then add to it by beating ourselves up for not doing better!) The bad side of stress comes from it’s huge drain on energy rather than the stress itself. When your body senses it is getting low on energy it goes even further into survival mode than the original stress triggered, and increases adrenalin even more to help you function until you can rest. And if you don’t rest then the adrenalin literally wears you out physically and mentally.

It’s common sense that you can’t use energy you haven’t got, and whereas you’ll monitor the battery energy on your phone and the petrol level in your cars – do you monitor your own energy levels? Are you aware of what drains you and what lifts you?

Stress uses a lot of energy, but the more energy you input the more stress you can deal with. So if you are going into a situation that you will find stressful it makes sense to do as much as you can to replenish your energy before it gets too low and adrenalin kicks in.

The energy we have is used for our mind and body, so if our body is using up a lot of energy we will have less for our mind and visa verse. If both are working efficiently then our energy supply lasts longer. eg say you have 10 units of energy and your body needs 4 just to function at rest, your supply will run out quicker than if your body was running more efficiently and needed just 1 unit at rest. The same goes for the mind, the more manic your mind is and the more you worry then the more energy that gets eaten up quickly, leaving you less energy physically. The more efficient your mind and body run then the more energy you will have, which means you will deal with everything easier and also feel better.

Your body is most efficient if it is healthy – getting exercise, healthy foods, relaxation and positive emotions.

Your mind is most efficient when it is calm and in the moment (ie not obsessing about the past or worrying about the future. Think of it like a computer – the more programs you have running at once the more energy it uses)

Additionally to this we all have personal energy drains and boosts, and it can help to keep a note throughout the day of what you do and who you encounter, and how it affects your energy (ie do you feel better or worse after?). Then you can make sure you do something to restore energy after it has been depleted, or even before.

Once you become aware of what drains you and can counteract is quickly then you will feel much happier and find situations and certain people less stressful. It is easier to restore energy in small chunks than to let yourself get totally drained and then refill. And the more you do this then the more it becomes an automatic habit.

It also means that if you know you are going to have a late night, or pig out on ‘bad’ foods over Christmas, you can lessen the affects by replenishing your energy in other ways. It’s not about being perfect and doing all the good things, it’s about finding easy ways to stay feeling good more of the time.

Here are some common drains and boosts:

Drains

Manic mind and negative thinking

Accumulation of past stress and unhealed past pain (these are like putting your TV on stand-by, it still uses energy)

If you ignore your body’s signs to rest then the affect snowballs, ie you go downhill quickly!

Eating unhealthy food

Not exercising

Doing too much at once

Doing things you hate, or that clash with your values

Certain people who it feels suck the life out of you

Not getting enough sleep

False energy – whether it’s alcohol, coffee, sugar etc, or manic excitement

Ignoring physical problems, your body needs energy to heal

Boosts

Meditation and being in the moment

Doing nothing, in silence

Taking a break and moving – preferably in nature

Doing something you love

Relaxation (if you fall asleep it’s a sign you are seriously low on energy, when you are balanced you will be alert and relaxed)

Healing and forgiveness

Caring for yourself physically and mentally

Visualizing something soothing, or a time you felt energised

Taking a nap

Learning techniques that help your body restore energy, eg. EFT, yoga, chi gung, breathing exercises, energy healing etc

Doing anything creative. Creativity is anything that creates something new, and not necessarily art. I recently realised that reading is creative for me as it creates new ways of thinking and new ideas. Or even problem solving. For you it could be anything you find playful.

Laughter.

There will be more drains and boosts that are personal to you, and once you work out what the quickest and most effective boosts for you are then you will be able to achieve so much more, and be happier doing it!