Stress for Success

I don't think so!

Anyone under a lot of stress knows their breaking point is right around the corner. I have seen it on airplanes everyday. Well suited corporate guy takes tantrum because Flight Attendant could not serve him a diet coke on highly turbulent flight. Oh yes! This is true, I've experienced it first hand, the man was so upset he didn't get "service" (we were instructed by Captain to remain seated due to severe turbulence). I actually took the Diet Coke and handed him the can on the way out!

I'm sure his outbreak wasn't about the Diet Coke or the service, but it was that little tiny straw that broke the camels back for him that day.

Stress affect all our bodily functions including our hormones. When stress levels are high our body secretes high levels of a hormone called cortisol. The key is high levels, we need cortisol, for glucose metabolism, blood pressure regulation, insulin release, memory, and quick bursts of energy. But when these levels become high and stay high it can cause difficulty relaxing and sleeping, sugar cravings, weight gain, digestive problems. Your body will even retain water and use up more vitamins and minerals. Basically it compromises your overall health. WiseGeek says.........
"A 2005 study that was conducted by Japan's Tokyo Women's Medical University found one of the main causes of more heart attacks — blood pressure — was consistently higher in study volunteers on Monday than any other day of the week. An older study confirmed that indeed, more people suffer heart attacks on Mondays — 20% more than on the other six days."

Yikes stay in bed!

Here are 6 tips you can use to reduce stress levels.

1. Try relaxation techniques. Yoga, meditation or tai chi.
2. Book a massage.
3. Take a daily walk and literally take time to "smell the roses"
4. Drink lots and lots of water. It is suggested you drink half your body weight in ounces of water!
5. Your body uses us vital resources under stress. Adaptogens and B vitamins help deal with this. Calcium also helps your body deal with stress!
6. Take time for yourself and honor that spectacular person that God created. There has to be a balance in life, it cannot be all work, work, work, you are sabotaging yourself if there is not a physical, spiritual, mental balance.

Slow down, you only have one body, one lifetime, work hard, but play hard too. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to take care of yourself. Because if you break, what good are you to anyone else?

Too busy to slow down? Life has a way of taking care of that problem!

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy