Stressors are numerous, they come from inside and out and are often not recognized. Some stressors can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle. It would be worth it to exercise a bit more self-awareness in this area. That´s our subject for today.
7 Steps to Better Quality of Life
Stress prevention is an important habit of people who enjoy a high quality of life. At times we reduce stress in some areas, but somehow before long, we fall right back into it. Almost automatically and unnoticeably, activities and responsibilities pile up until we find ourselves back in the stress mill. It is therefore a great strategy to practice systematic stress prevention !
Stress prevention is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. As you look around at others, you may notice that those who practice the following points in their lifestyles do not generally suffer with too much stress.
1. Rest and Relaxation
Consciously take time for breaks. We often underestimate the vital need for regular breaks. It´s not enough to just make an exception now and then like taking time for lunch instead of working through your lunch break. If we don’t give ourselves regular breaks, we will soon be suffering under achievement stress.
Implementing methods of relaxation is not only helpful when one is already stressed. We should learn to integrate techniques of relaxation into our everyday lives.
Instead of going out to eat with friends, stay in your office and do some systematic relaxation. Or you could even do it at other times, for example, every hour you could take a few minutes to rest and stretch and enjoy some relaxing music. If you don’t want to do it in public at the office, you could disappear into the restroom for a few minutes and relax there. After all, it IS the RESTROOM. More on this topic in the following BLOG.
Not every working space can be so comfortably furnished. We must learn to identify limits and not try to change things that cannot be changed!
2. Enough Good Sleep
It is said that 6-8 hours of sleep gives a person the highest life expectancy. More or less than that on a regular basis and over a prolonged period of time is a great stress on the body. When one’s quality of sleep is constantly poor, it can cause obesity and loss of muscle mass.
Melatonin and Free Radicals
The hormone melatonin is produced in the brain while we are sleeping. It is one of the antioxidants in the body and works like a magnet for the health-damaging molecules known as free radicals. These attack the genetic substance (genome) in the cell and can produce carcinogenic mutations. Melatonin is made from serotonin, the sunshine feel-good hormone, which means if you spend enough time in the sun, you’ll sleep better, healthier and more deeply. More on this topic in the following BLOG.
3. Healthy Nutrition
This is a subject that is often discussed but less often practiced. When appetite and reason disagree, appetite often wins. Most people know that natural products are healthy and refined products with innumerable ingredients can, sooner or later, bring about challenges to our health. Whole grain products, organic fruits and vegetables are beneficial, while meat and other animal products on today’s market can, unfortunately, be detrimental.
Be careful of dangerous substances: caffeine, theobromine (cacao), nicotine and alcohol, which influence the brain so negatively that with them successful stress management is nearly impossible. (See BLOG)
We also know that our bodies need a lot of water every day. Our brain functions best at 85% water, but many heads have to survive on much less! For this reason, we are recommended to drink enough pure, clean water to produce clear urine twice daily. For more on that subject, see BLOG.
“You are what you eat.”
4. Exercise is the Answer
We all know that physical exercise is good for us, but very few are really clear on how absolutely vital it isfor our health. Exercise is a great stress preventer and not only that, but those who exercise a lot, live longer. Many people excuse themselves with, “I just don’t have time for that!” or „I’m too old!“ or „I’m too lazy,“ or "I’m alone." Don’t let these arguments stop you from exercising. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Lack of exercise can cause sickness and emotional disturbances, insomnia, constipation, cardiovascular disease, rheumatism, metabolic challenges and lack of oxygen, not to mention diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer and last, but not least, susceptibility to stress.
Benefits of Exercise
Exercise regulates blood pressure and protects and strengthens the heart and blood vessels. Better circulation means oxygen levels are higher, which facilitates clearer thought processes, sounder sleep and quicker recovery from sickness. Lower cholesterol levels are another perk appreciated by many. For more on that subject, see BLOG.
Hiking in the Alps of eastern Switzerland is a real treat! Surrounded by peaceful beauty, you will find strength and motivation to set new priorities and strive for important goals in life!
5. Test Goals and Decisions
Every decision we make influences our lives. Every person makes hundreds of decisions daily! Our decisions are about lifestyle, work, friends, environment, future and relationships. Smoking, drinking, taking drugs, having sex without the proper protection, exercising daily, drinking enough water, staying mentally fit and improving our knowledge are also all matters requiring decisions.
Every decision you make has an influence on your life & health.
The sum of all our decisions determines our quality of life.
For this reason, all our decisions, great or small, should be made thoughtfully, intelligently and consciously. Just as Paul Watzlawick said: "One cannot not communicate,“ we can also say, "We cannot not decide!“
Keep the Direction
If the meaning of life is to realize one’s values, we are challenged to think about what they actually are. For many people, enjoyment is the highest value in life. Gratification of desire is their daily goal. I’m not sure how valuable that is. On the other hand, there are many values worth working and fighting for, like our spouses, children, friends, work, people in need, love and truth.
Example: A Christian’s goal is to live forever when this earthly life is over.
This is a goal that requires thought. Namely, the question must be answered, "How do I get to heaven?" If you ask five people that question, you will surely receive seven answers. Very risky! How shall we know which is right? It seems the goal is too serious to flip a coin and let chance make the decision. In my humble opinion, the answer is found in the Bible, but unfortunately, most believers follow tradition, in the mindset of “It’s what my parents believed.” That is also very risky! Many opinions are either partially or completely unbiblical! We have to study for ourselves and not depend on the opinions of others. It saddens me to think of all the people who have decided to take a wrong path because they haven’t discovered the Bible as the only infallible source of truth.
A person who knows where he or she wants to go in life has the great advantage that he or she can align all decisions and priorities accordingly. Those who are driven by the moment (extrinsically motivated) will sooner or later fall prey to the system.
6. Set Priorities
Depending on the goals we choose, we can and must set priorities in order to reach them. Priorities can affect our choices in relationships, free time and employment.
Suggestions for Healthy Priorities:
Relationships are important, but they can also cause stress. When stressful situations arise in the family, it is important to find good solutions to improve the quality of our relationships. If there’s trouble on the job, it may also be possible to solve. However, if no solution can be found (some people just don’t want to change), a change of job may be the best option.
Lifestyle: As we saw above, lifestyle is a huge factor in our happiness. Prioritizing physical, emotional and mental health is paramount. Good nutrition, getting enough exercise in the out-of-doors, sunlight and rest are all factors that can help make this priority a reality.
The Meaning of Life: People who have found the meaning of life know where they are going. They have direction. A life without goals can be chaotic and even pointless. Those who recognize love for others and love for God as meaningful are generally highly motivated and positive toward life´s questions and challenges. They tend to improve themselves on all levels and progress in wisdom and maturity.
7. Making Knowledge Practical
After reading all these steps, we know quite a bit, don’t we? In our society, so much knowledge is at our fingertips, there should actually not be any unsolved problems. We have the solutions: we have the technology. The step we really need to take is that of putting our knowledge into practice and making it a reality in our lives. Knowledge without action is worthless.
From couch potato to exercise coach! Anyone who manages that paradigm shift deserves a medal, but much better than a medal are all the benefits to be reaped from such positive action!
To achieve that, you need quiet, clear moments to put your decisions and priorities into action. You need to make a plan and possibly set some sub-goals. Some people make notes and set dates for themselves, others tell their loved ones of their decisions and goals, or may invite a friend or spouse to help or join them in their activities. This may include doing sports or taking a class together.
Achtung: We all have a tendency to take the path of least resistance. Many are not motivated to take action because of the effort involved. However, if nothing changes, nothing changes. We need to find something we can change. On the other hand, we should not overdo it; too many sudden changes at once can be overwhelming.
The best way is not to OVER- or UNDER- challenge ourselves, but to give ourselves a reasonable challenge. That is my heart’s desire for you!
