As modern humans, many of us are suffering under the incredible weight of prolonged stress. We are living through extreme turmoil and unprecedented change – and it feels like the hits just keep coming
Even if we are fortunate enough to be in good health, with sovereign allies and self-reliant systems, it’s important to acknowledge the collective stress and grief we’ve been slogging through.
While our nervous systems are incredibly resilient as a whole, it’s vital to consider that we are up against some of the most challenging times our species has ever faced.
Our house is on fire, so to speak, and it’s been this way for years, if not decades.
It is both sobering and comforting to acknowledge that nobody is coming to save us. We must rise to the occasion and take radical responsibility for ourselves and our own health.
What does it mean to take radical self-responsibility for our health and wellbeing?
In a time of information overload, endless data, and conflicting “facts”, this means quieting the cacophony and turning inward for answers that ring with the truth of our intuition, even in the absence of proof.
In a time of profound disconnection, paid-off experts, and brainwashed agenda-pushers, this means it’s time to trust that we are our own best healers.
Healing is not the same as treatment – and it won’t come from a pharmacy, nor from the mouth of any pseudo-expert in a white coat.
To heal and thrive despite prolonged stress, we must reconnect with the basic truth of our humanity – and quit seeing ourselves as impervious machines that can be abused without recourse.
In this article, you’ll find nine accessible tips to manage your stress and improve your wellbeing.
Let your intuition and conscious awareness guide you, and begin taking radical responsibility for your wellbeing!
The most accessible, simple tool that any of us have instant access to is our breath.
When we are stressed, we tend to revert to shallow, irregular breathing. When we notice that we are holding tension in our bodies, we can shift our focus to our breath and take a few slow, deep inhalations. This sends a message to our brain that says we are safe, which in turn regulates our nervous system. Over time and with practice, we can cultivate a habit of being mindful about our breathing patterns. Often, we think we need to take deep breaths, but in fact, slowing down your breathing is more important.
Box breathing for a few minutes before bed can be helpful if we have trouble falling asleep. To do this, inhale for a count of 4 (seconds or heartbeats), hold for a count of 4, then exhale for a count of 4, and then wait another 4 seconds before the next inhale. You can also try something called the physiological sigh – which is a rapid, large inhale in two parts, followed by a long, slow exhale. We naturally do this when we are crying, and it’s one way that our body prompts us to re-balance and find equilibrium. Meditation is a lovely practice as well, but even 2 minutes of observing the breath can improve our overall level of wellbeing.
Time outside in nature is one of the most simple and accessible ways to reduce stress and reconnect with our inner wellbeing.
Feeling the breeze tickle your skin and the sunshine on your face, hearing the rustle of leaves or birdsong, catching the scent of sweet pine or floral notes on the air, and simply gazing out at the horizon or into the clouds – these sensory experiences have a primal and peaceful effect on our psyche. Human beings lived in close communion with the cycles of day and night for eons, until very recently when we all retreated into our climate-controlled, artificial caves.
The practice of grounding is a simple way to reduce chronic stress, inflammation, and pain, and improve our quality of sleep.
We are electromagnetic beings, and we live on a giant magnet: our planet Earth. Our bodies accumulate positive ions over time, which cause various states of imbalance – and they can be discharged simply by placing our bare feet in contact with the soil, sand, grass, or stone. Humans used to sleep on the Earth and walk barefoot, or in leather soles. Now, our feet are insulated in rubber-soled shoes, and our homes are built to minimize contact with the natural world. Next time you’re feeling anxious or sad, go outside barefoot for 5 minutes and see whether it improves your mood.
Digital detox days are a wonderful practice if you have trouble disconnecting from technology.
Many of us may not even realize we are sensitive to EMFs from WiFi , screens, and cellular phones if we’re immersed in using them. Once we take a conscious step back and really allow ourselves time away from tech, we may be surprised at how different we feel.
A “digital detox” might look like putting your phone away by dinnertime each night, shutting off screens after 8pm, or choosing a day each week to commit to zero screen time. You can also experiment with app limits for your phone and timer technology – for instance, setting up a shutoff time for your router!
Instead of scrolling news articles or social media, instead of watching Netflix – make plans that involve body movement, time in nature, or an outing with friends. Leave your phone on the charger, silence notifications, and fill your day with non-digital activities!
You may also want to experiment with various EMF devices that either block or restructure harmful frequencies. Two options to consider are orgonite pendants and faraday cases for your laptop and phone.
Removing adrenal stimulants can also make a difference in how well and deeply we can sleep at night, which in turn affects our body’s ability to restore and rejuvenate.
Many of us are walking around in a state of high-alert when it comes to our adrenal glands, but we don’t even realize it. Anxious habits, night waking, and even excessive urination can all be linked to excess adrenaline in our systems.
Adrenal stimulants cause our bodies to be awash in stress hormones like cortisol, which contribute to premature aging and impact our heart health – and it doesn’t help when many adrenal stimulants are viewed as typical lifestyle habits, like grabbing a venti coffee at 5pm!
Avoiding or reducing things like caffeine, processed foods, refined sugar and flour, artificial sweeteners, seed oils, and excessive blue light (especially before bed) can ease the load on our adrenals and help our bodies stay out of low-level fight-or-flight mode!
Human bodies are designed to crave movement – not just as exercise or isolated activities, but as an overall lifestyle.
All of our physical and mental processes are positively impacted when we move our bodies more frequently, and with more variety. Specifically, weight training rebuilds our mitochondria, boosts our metabolic functions, and protects against bone loss as we age. Walking supports our vascular and lymphatic systems, and is essential to our holistic wellbeing. Dance and yoga can be nourishing for the mind and soul.
Movement specialist Katy Bowman explains that the way modern humans approach fitness is akin to taking a vitamin, but neglecting to pay attention to the rest of our diet. If we are sedentary for the majority of our time, but go to the gym and complete a specific workout – that’s significantly better than not moving at all – but it’s a lopsided approach.
When we look for opportunities to incorporate more movement into our daily lives, the benefits start to multiply exponentially. Instead of viewing fitness as a chore to check off our list, we can view movement as something to sprinkle into every aspect of our daily lives. Walk for ten minutes after lunch; put on music and dance every morning before you get dressed; park at the bottom of the lot instead of looking for the perfect spot up close. Sit on the floor more often, if you can – and try varying your position.
If we find ourselves in an emotional slump, it’s so helpful to get up and change our scenery – walk, dance, jump rope, swim, or roller-skate! As author Julia Cameron says, move a muscle to move a mood.
You may not think of the news and media you consume as something that impacts your physical health, but our nervous system and adrenals are affected when we frequently take in intense and alarming scenes.
Our limbic brain processes stressful ideas that we hold in our mind nearly the same as if we were experiencing these events firsthand. Whether it’s scrolling on social media or compulsively listening to the news, you might just find that your mental health improves when you become more mindful about the quality and quantity of that content.
When we consume content during most of our free time, we also blunt our creative desires.
All of us, no matter our level of artistic talent, appreciate beauty and can derive enjoyment from creative pursuits. Nature journalling, coloring book pages, sewing and music-making can all be highly beneficial to our holistic wellbeing, even if our creativity won’t win any awards. Working with our hands is also soothing, and highly underrated – from woodwork to knitting.
After a stressful, busy day, it might seem like all you have energy for is Netflix on the couch – but if you can motivate yourself to take a quick walk, or pick up a coloring book or a paintbrush, your creative mind will be engaged, which positively impacts our stress levels.
Try doing something creative with friends for even more benefits – and simply for the joy of sharing intimate connection!
Finally, meaningful community and authentic friendships are more critical than ever in these times of extreme events.
We are no longer trying to convince others to see things from our perspective, and we have no time or energy to spend on division. If someone you care about is a constant source of negativity, fear, complaint, or anger – this may present a significant challenge for you, and will lower your frequency over time. Instead, consider sending them love from afar, and refocus your attention on social connections that feel well-grounded and genuine.
Your circle of friends and loved ones should be uplifting, joyful, and supportive, even if it’s a small circle or includes people you cannot spend time with as frequently as you’d like. Make time to call or meet with friends, whether it’s a potluck dinner or a “party” to help break ground on your new garden beds. Our success and happiness in life is a direct reflection of the five people we spend the most time in contact with!
Being resilient means that we have the capacity to heal, live to our fullest capacity, and thrive – not just in spite of challenging circumstances, but because of them.
The obstacles we face can be transmuted into potent fuel for our healing journey, if we are willing and able to re-imagine our story from a place of empowerment.
What heights could we achieve, what peace could we collectively cultivate – if we allow every single experience in our lives to be our wise and patient teachers, propelling us into new levels of growth, self-awareness, self-sufficiency, and healing?
