Stress Management Tips to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

by | Aug 16, 2011 | Self-Care, Stress Management, Wellness Tips & Information, Workplace Wellness

By Ann Gatty, Ph.D.

We all could use some great, easy stress relief tips to help us experience a calm and healthy lifestyle.  As women, we are busy balancing our personal and professional lives.  We seem to have ever-growing lists of responsibilities and limited time to get everything done.  Women under stress are increasingly at risk for not only emotional strain, but physical illnesses, including heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Being mentally and emotionally healthy means that our mind and emotions are functioning as they should, without anxiety, depression or other malfunctions.  Actually, the mind and body are so connected that psychological issues and stressors can affect the physical body, and physical conditions can affect the mind and emotions.  Unprocessed emotions such as stress, prolonged anger, and anxiety, put the whole body in a state of tension and weaken the immune system.  Sometimes our emotional state can prove more detrimental to our well-being than lack of exercise or nutrition.

However, eating well with proper nutrition is a great way to combat stress buildup and actually in many cases, relieve stress.  People who are experiencing a good amount of stress may find that they are prone to overeat, undereat, or rely on junk food.  If you find yourself experiencing more stress and or find your life becoming more hectic, guard against making poor nutritional choices because that can actually increase your stress levels.

We know that physical activity is extremely important in order for women to maintain a healthy body.  Enjoying exercise, and the stress relief that occurs from it, improves your mood, so make the time to get into the habit of regular physical activity.  Feeling better about yourself goes a long way in improving your self confidence.  Physical activity also lowers the symptoms from stress, anxiety or mild depression and improves your ability to get a good nights rest.  Although you may find that balancing family responsibilities and a professional career is enough to juggle, take time to participate in some forms of exercise for your own well-being.  It is essential for your good health in the long run.

Aside from eating well and exercising we have listed several other stress relief tips that you can easily put into practice and enjoy the benefits of a healthier you.  Take time to manage the stressors in your life so that they do not affect your health.

Try These Five Stress Relief Tips for Healthy Living

  1. Get enough sleep!! Eight hours if you can.  No late night movies—at least not very often!!  Sleep allows you to be refreshed for the next day.
  2. Take a multivitamin. With our busy lives, we often don’t eat right.  And women need calcium for strong bones.
  3. Stretch. If you are sitting at work, get up and stretch every hour–if only for a few minutes.  Don’t let muscles tense from being in one position too long.
  4. Smile more. If you smile at others they will return the favor.  Purge the negative thoughts by smiling and focus on being happy.  A great de-stressor.
  5. Pamper yourself. Indulge in some great skin and hair care products, visit a spa, get your nails done!  If you feel good about yourself you will begin to have a more positive attitude.  Remember to take care of you!

About the Author

Ann Gatty, Ph.D. is a certified teacher, mentor, author and organizational strategist.  Through her website, www.stress-management-4-women.com, Dr. Gatty coaches women in stress management strategies, life skill development, and building life transitions to balance personal and professional goals.  Ann now dedicates her coaching practice to helping women, both on-line and face-to-face, during their periods of life transition and/or finding ways to maximize their potential as women entrepreneurs.  She is the author of Discovering God’s Recipe for a Healthy Body, Heart and Soul.

About Manifest Excellence, LLC

Manifest Excellence, LLC supports people in optimizing personal wellness by addressing the five key areas that impact health. They combine over 20 years experience in traditional health promotion with a holistic and comprehensive wellness philosophy. This innovative combination provides effective tools and strategies for creating optimal health and wellness.



Donna Hamilton, MD, MS, FAAP
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