I’m going to talk about why eliminating stress is the number one step towards health. I will also talk about why the health industry should acknowledge stress over nutrition and fitness.
Today’s health culture is nutrition and fitness obsessed. If you Google the words “healthy lifestyle,” the first thing you’ll see are pictures and articles about food. Colorful, vibrant fruits and vegetables will be at the forefront, along with brown whole grains and legumes. Secondarily, you’ll see images of fitness. Stock photos of runners and bikers will be on your front feed.
It seems like today’s health industry values health factors in this order:
- Nutrition
- Fitness
- Physical surroundings
In other words, outward displays of health.
It was quite difficult to find anything specifically on keeping your stress levels low. I would find a couple sentences here and there about the topic. I had to specifically search the topic of stress to get more information. This needs to be number one.
I believe that part of the human experience is about receiving messages through other people. I forget when, where, how, or who. But I have a memory from years ago that I’ve always held onto. I was talking to an older man who was sharing life advice with me. He started talking about how bad stress will mess up your health.
He turned to me and said, “You know, sometimes I think keeping stress out of your life is way more important than what goes into your body.”
What this man said was no joke. In fact, stress creates a hormonal response that wreaks havoc on your body and on your brain. According to Harvard Chan School, stress triggers your body’s fight or flight response. Your body releases the hormone adrenaline. Left unchecked, cortisol is released which adds more glucose into your body. This slows down your systems such as digestion and growth. Over time, this can cause cell damage.
I want to emphasize something: stress is a fear-based response which serves one purpose and one purpose only: to strengthen our legs so we can run faster. This worked exceptionally well during hunter-gatherer times, but is an old response. It doesn’t serve us when the majority of people now work desk jobs.
It’s no wonder so many of us have difficulty sleeping and eating during times of stress. And if you’re anything like me, the last thing you want to do when stressed is prepare and eat a healthy meal. I’ll reach for the McDonald’s cheeseburgers!
Every component of health is interconnected, and it begins with how balanced we are. This is precisely why I believe keeping stress levels low should take precedence over any other health factor.
The health industry overlooks stress because it has become so normalized. Full schedules with no time to rest are applauded. Talking about how busy you are has become a bragging point. Days off are to be packed to the brim with activities.
Is this to say we should all live a life of ease, never move our bodies, and scarf down takeout every day? Of course not! Challenges are how you grow as a person. But there’s a difference between stepping out of your comfort zone and wearing yourself down.
It’s all about balance.
I eat Taco Bell sometimes and skip workouts from time to time. And honestly? I feel way better mentally than when I was forcing myself to workout five days a week and eat nothing but unprocessed healthy foods. Because that can become a source of stress in itself! (And it did for me. But that’s going to be a different blog post entirely.)
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At this point, you may be wondering how you can manage your stress levels better. My best advice for this is to use the process of elimination. I’ll bet there’s at least one thing you can do today in order to create a more balanced life. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Take a commitment off of your plate.
In my previous post about building emotional independence, I talk about the power of I Can’t. That’s a simple phrase to put into your tool bag so the next time someone asks you to do something that would add stress, you know what to say.
Let go of any commitment you know is dragging you down. This is your permission slip. Remember you’re a human, not a superhero.
2. Look at your physical surroundings and see what you can eliminate.
Physical clutter leads to mental clutter. You can’t focus when your surroundings are a mess. Now, this doesn’t mean you need to become a minimalist and donate half of your belongings. It just means that creating better cleaning habits is key. Along with this, being mindful of what you bring into your living space will help.
3. Check your bank statements and see what you can cancel.
Most of us have one subscription or another. Many people have subscriptions they never use. By eliminating these, you free up cash. More money equals more free time. More free time equals less stress.
Beyond just subscriptions, are you keeping track of your spending? Take inventory of unnecessary spending, and you’ll be surprised at where money is leaking out. If you can identify and eliminate this, you’ll be able to save more. Financial stress is real, so take control of your wallet today.
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Our society is becoming more aware of ways to live a healthy lifestyle.
However, we still have a long way to go when it comes to awareness of stress, and the negative impacts it has on our health. The health industry is so focused on food, nutrition, and fitness, but neglects the harms of stress.
Remember that stress is the catalyst for unhealthy eating habits, fitness barriers, and bad sleep patterns. I promise there are small changes you can make every day to minimize stress levels and lead a more balanced life.