Stephanie Linus Daily

Tag: Stress

  • What Activity Helps You Clear Your Mind?

    In today’s busy world, it can seem impossible to get a quiet minute – but you must prioritize it. Decluttering your mind is about clearing your head so you can focus on the important things.

    Anxiety is understandable since it has turned our lives upside down and threatens our sense of safety. But learning how to clear your mind decreases stress, improves your concentration and is vital to your mental health.

    Some effective ways to do this include:

    1. Meditataion
    2. Breathing Exercises
    3. Writing Down Your Thoughts
    4. Exercise
    5. Taking A Walk
    6. Listening To Music

    So, go ahead, clear your mind and conquer the day! The day is yours! It’s your chance to take massive action and move in the direction of your goals and dreams.

    Share with me… what activity helps you clear your mind?

  • 5 Healthy Changes To Make Today

    Committing to a healthier lifestyle is one that will take a lot of work. But believe me when I tell you it’ll be worth it!

    These five simple lifestyle changes may seem small, but they can lead to big improvements to your health.

    Drink More Water

    There’s enough information out there about the importance of drinking enough water. I can’t over-emphasize this. It is worth checking to see if you are getting enough clean water to drink. A quick test — the pee test! Is your urine almost as clear as water? No? Then you’re not drinking enough water.

    Sleep Well

    When you don’t get the recommended 7–9 hours per night, it can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health, not to mention work performance and social life. Make time to sleep. If you have to, set the bedtime alarm on your phone. Unplug from your computer, tablet, cell phone, or e-reader before bedtime. Instead, unwind before bedtime with a bath or some light reading.

    Get Some Exercise

    Sitting all day isn’t good for your body or your heart. Physical activity is extremely important for your longevity. Sometimes it can feel impossible to fit in a lot of exercise when you’re not used to it, but engaging in movement such as walks throughout your day is much more doable.

    Have a diet plan

    Managing your food intake can simply take a change in how you think about food. When you decide to eat fruits instead of chocolate, internally tell yourself you’re making a choice. You are choosing your health which would eventually yield great results in the long term.

    Avoid stress

    Stress triggers a survival response that can help us in the short-term but become damaging if it persists for a prolonged period. Learning how to control stress can help you retain your mental and physical health.

    Starting small, focusing on one behavior at a time and support from others can help you achieve your exercise or other health-related goals.

  • Monday Musings: How I cope with stress

    The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of work, meetings, presentations, targets and more. While I’m very thankful to God for the opportunities that have come my way, it can sometimes get so overwhelming.

    Everyone experiences stress at times. Research has shown that short term stress can be beneficial by helping us develop skills to cope with threatening situations. However, when stress is severe enough to overwhelm a person’s ability to take care of themselves and family, the benefits diminish. Don’t forget that the bills won’t stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day, and your work and family responsibilities will always be demanding.

    Here are some of the lessons I’ve learnt in managing stress lately. Feel free to add yours in the comments section below.

    1. Express your gratitude
    I can’t go a day without saying how thankful I am to God. Just the simple act of counting your blessings is very relaxing and makes you smile even when you think things are bleak. You could also write down your feelings of gratitude daily in a journal, or send little notes to friends or family letting them know how much you appreciate them.

    2. Avoid Drugs, Caffeine & Alcohol
    Drugs and alcohol may seem to help with the stress. In the long run, they create additional problems and increase the stress you are already feeling. Avoid, or at least reduce, your consumption of nicotine and any drinks containing caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and so will increase your level of stress rather than reduce it.

    3. Talk to Someone
    Just talking to someone about how you feel can be helpful. Talking can work by either distracting you from your stressful thoughts or releasing some of the built-up tension by discussing it. For me, talking to my husband always does the trick. There is nothing more calming to your nervous system than communicating with another human being who makes you feel safe and understood.

    4. Find distractions
    During long periods of working, distractions are crucial. I always find relief from stress when I’m with my ever smiling son.

    5. Take a break
    Give yourself a break if you feel stressed out. Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it be music, playing a game, or watching a movie.

    I’d love to hear from you. What do you do to relieve stress when you feel stressed out?

    Have a lovely Monday!

  • 3 Delicious Health Benefits Of Eating Chocolate

    I know you’re probably smiling while reading this post. Why wouldn’t you? Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and you’re gearing up to eat as much chocolate as you can!

    I’m not here to say you should over indulge yourself and eat so much chocolate… No. Chocolate has been said to cause a lot of problems including acne and obesity when taken in large enough quantities. But in recent years, studies have found that eating small amounts of the right kind of chocolate can actually be healthy.

    Studies show that Dark Chocolate (not just any kind of chocolate) is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health. Take a look at some of the surprising health benefits of chocolate:

    A Healthier Heart
    Regular chocolate eaters welcome a host of benefits for their hearts, including lower blood pressure, lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and a lower risk of heart disease.

    One of the reasons dark chocolate is especially heart-healthy is its inflammation-fighting properties, which reduce cardiovascular risk. A study showed that chocolate 5+ times per week lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease by 57%.  Another recent study in Australia showed that eating chocolate high in healthy antioxidants reduced the blood pressure-raising effects of exercise on overweight individuals.

    A Good Source Of Antioxidants
    Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants help free your body of free radicals, which cause oxidative damage to cells. Free radicals are implicated in the aging process and may be a cause of cancer, so eating antioxidant rich foods like dark chocolate can protect you from many types of cancer and slow the signs of aging.

    Reduces Risk Of Stroke
    A 2011 Swedish study found that women who ate more than 45 grams of chocolate a week had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke than women who treated themselves to fewer than 9 grams of the sweet stuff. Dark chocolate increases blood flow to the brain as well as to the heart, so it can help improve cognitive function. This helps reduce your risk of stroke.

    I found other health benefits of chocolate while doing some research but these three above struck me the most.

    Because it’s rich in fiber, dark chocolate can actually help keep you full, so you’ll eat less. It also contains a number of vitamins and minerals that can support your health such as Potassium, Copper, Magnesium and Iron. The bioactive compounds in dark chocolate are also great for your skin. And let’s not forget its amazing taste. Hmm…. Yummy.

    SL Fabz, don’t forget. Eat chocolate in moderation. Don’t go overboard, chocolate still contains sugar and fat. Enjoy a little bit of it for its great health benefits.

    Have a Sweet Friday!