The “Lazy” Guide to Everyday Stress Busting

Did you know that there are several ways to combat adrenal fatigue by doing literally nothing? Today I’m going to explain a few of them, but first take a look at these shocking facts:

• In 2010, the Canadian Social Survey reported that more than a quarter of people in work described their day to day lives as being “highly stressful”.
• The Institute for Stress and Wellbeing Research states that physiology of stress means it has the potential to be the cause of almost any illness known to man.
• The Mood Disorders Society of Canada claims that 20% of Canadian workers experience a stress related illness every year.

Because living with stress has become such a cultural norm, it’s easy to think that the only way to deal with it is to suck it up or “keep calm and carry on.” However, if you’re living with adrenal fatigue, you’ll be well aware that this is simply not an option. Worries about finances, work commitments and relationships don’t stop just because you have adrenal exhaustion! So apart from winning the lottery and jetting off to a beach in the middle of nowhere, what low cost, effortless practices are proven to help you de-stress without giving you something else to worry about?

When you’re too tired to deal with stress, check out these no-effort tricks to give your adrenals a well-earned break;

Meditation and adrenal fatigue

Flustered, hectic, rushed, tired…. are these words that describe how you start your day? Why not try doing the opposite to what most people do?

Studies show that taking just ten minutes to sit quietly and escape from the noisy thoughts we all carry around in our heads, can make significant improvements to your stress levels. Doing this first thing in the morning can make a huge difference to your energy levels throughout the day.

Try this:

Set your morning alarm ten minutes early and find somewhere quiet to sit. If you’re new to meditation or find it hard to relax, try a free app like insight timer which comes complete with a range of guided meditations lasting between 5 minutes and half an hour. Be still and visualise your thoughts as clouds passing over in the sky. Acknowledge them, then let them go. This will help to distract your mind from worrying about the day ahead and give you a new perspective on any problems that may be bothering you.

Ten minutes of being present in the moment gives you the headspace you need to focus on what’s really important, while allowing you to let go of the things you can’t change. You can use this technique at any point in the day (waiting for a bus, or even in the middle of a tense business meeting!) The more you practice, the easier it gets. By making meditation a regular part of your morning routine, you’re deciding to start your day in a calm frame of mind. This puts you in a great position to combat whatever challenges the day may have in store.

Get some fresh air

Most people would agree that being outdoors on a fresh summer day is one of the best antidotes for “blowing the cobwebs away”. Fresh air makes us feel great! But are you getting enough? If you’re one of the many people around the globe who works in a large ventilated building with little to no natural light, then probably not.

Try leaving a window open during the night to allow fresh air to circulate while you sleep, or find a way to get outside for at least ten minutes each day. Could you take your lunch outdoors to a nearby park? Could you walk to the store instead of taking the car? Increased oxygen circulating around your bloodstream and brain is an all-natural, no effort way to de-stress. There’s no reason not to make it a regular part of your daily routine.

Head for the Spa

Picture this: you’re sitting in a hot tub surrounded by gentle music, fragrant bubbles and nothing to do all afternoon. Feeling relaxed? Why wouldn’t you? You don’t have to have an expensive gym membership to pamper yourself; you can do it all right there in the comfort of your own home. Add in some carefully selected essential oils, and you’ll soon be in stress-busting mode.

Oils from plants such as rosemary and pine have been shown to mimic the action of cortisone in the body and have a direct effect on the activity of the adrenal cortex. You can use the oils to scent the room using an aromatherapy diffuser. Alternatively, combine a few drops with a soothing carrier oil (sesame oil is highly esteemed in Ayurveda for calming nervous energy) and add the resulting elixir to your bathwater. Other beneficial oils include lavender, ylang ylang and bergamot. Experiment to see what works for you.

Give yourself a break from adrenal fatigue

The great thing about each one of these action tips is that they require little to no effort to put into place. By making a conscious decision to make just one small change to your routine, you may find after a few days that your mood is lighter and your energy has been increased.

Let’s face it; if you have time to check emails and update Facebook, you have time to meditate. If you have ten minutes to spare before the kids get home, give yourself a foot bath! By consciously choosing to give yourself a break instead of constantly responding to stressors, you can reduce the burden on your poor, overworked adrenal glands. The only thing you have to do now is make a commitment to adding one of these suggestions to your recovery plan. What’s to stop you?