Feature Articles: Food, Fitness and Holidays
Take control of stress before it takes control of you
Janet Hackert, Regional Nutrition and Health Education Specialist
The holiday season is officially in full swing. Life seems to get even busier than usual this time of year. There are ways to relieve stress and to take control of stress before it takes control of you.
The signs of stress vary from person to person. Some may feel fatigue,
head/chest/back pain, diarrhea or constipation, or change of appetite.
For some, irritability, a noticeably negative attitude, or an anxious
feeling may be a signal of stress. Identifying one’s own signs of
stress is the first step toward stress relief.
The next step is learning ways to relieve stress as it arises. One
method of stress relief is relaxation. Take a deep breath. Take
another one. By filling the lungs with air, blood is oxygenated,
and the body is rejuvenated.
Another relaxation technique is called mindfulness. Lynn Rossy,
of the TE Atkins University of Missouri Wellness Program, uses the
acronym S.T.O.P to help explain what mindfulness means. It stands
for Stop, Take a breath, Observe the situation, and Proceed. “After
following those few steps, you’ve stopped long enough that you might
not continue to do something you’ll regret,” Rossy says. At her
program’s web site (http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/curators/wellness/mindfulness/guided.htm),
you can download guided mindfulness exercises. They are as short
as 3 minutes and as long as 30.
Physical activity is another way to release the tension of stress.
Try stretching. Even a little stretch at the computer, at the kitchen
table, at the side of the tractor, or whenever the tension is felt
in the muscles can help make the situation a bit easier to handle.
Aerobic activity is yet another option. For relief of just a little
stress, a walk around the block, office or living room, can revitalize
and give a new perspective on a task. If stress levels are higher,
perhaps more strenuous activity is called for. Running the stairs,
cleaning house, shoveling out a calf pen or some other activity
might do the trick.
Learn to recognize your symptoms and manage them before stress becomes
overwhelming. Find techniques that work for you, use them, and live
a less stressful existence.
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Last update: Monday, December 14, 2009
