I have to admit it. I haven’t been very consistent with my posts lately and managed to post something only once a week. The truth is, the past few weeks have been very intense and I have been very busy with the launch of Go Gusto. This is only the beginning and although there is a lot more work to come, I feel uplifted and full of gratitude. It has been an amazing journey. The fact that right now our company is a reality and that since two days ago I can finally hold the juices in my hand, the way you will hold them, makes me emotional and extremely happy. We are working hard on the launch event, which will take place in the beginning of June, after which all of you will have the opportunity to order our cold-pressed juices from Gogusto.lu.
I feel so grateful that I am doing things that I absolutely love, and I feel like I have found my purpose to serve everyone and offer a product that will revitalize your day and health. Having said all that I have to admit that from time to time I can become stressed doing the things that I do. Knowing how harmful stress can be, I really try to work on myself and employ various stress reducing techniques.
Here I want to share with you my techniques to reduce stress. I love them as they always give me instant results! Let me know if you have some others that you use and find effective.
- Meditate
Meditation will help calm your mind and make you concentrate on the now, on your breath and nothing else. Just a few minutes of meditation a day can benefit with stress and anxiety. Just sit comfortably in a chair or in a lotus pose, close your eyes, and concentrate on your breath. You can repeat a positive mantra or simply direct your inner gaze towards your third eye (in between your eyebrows). Let your thoughts pass by like clouds in the sky, without identifying with them or charging them with emotion.
- Breathe deeply
If you don’t have a calm space where you can meditate then just concentrate on your breath and consciously slow down your breathing. Deep breathing slows down your heart rate and helps reduce stress. Spare a minute, place one hand on your belly and take a deep breath through your nose. Feel the breath starting in your abdomen and filling you all the way to the top of your head. Then slowly exhale through your mouth, reversing the process. This will oxygenate your brain and blood and you will feel refreshed.
- Exercise
Whenever I feel stressed I practice yoga. It makes me concentrate on the various asanas (poses) and on my breath leaving all stressful thoughts behind. This is my personal anti-stress medicine. It combines physical exercise with conscious breath and meditation on the now. I cannot emphasize enough on the importance of yoga in my life.
If you don’t practice yoga than just do whatever exercise you like doing. Go for a run or do some stretching. Any physical activity will help reduce stress.
- Reach out to your friends and loved ones
Meeting with your friends is great to reduce stress. You can share with them what is worrying you and get a fresh perspective on your current situation. Don’t overwhelm them with your problems though. No one likes a whiner. 😉
- Laugh out loud
The adrenal glands above your kidneys are the place where “stress” is released in your body. As a response to stress factors the adrenal glands release hormones, such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. This is when you get that knot in your stomach and stress rises in your body. A good belly laugh will help lower the cortisol levels and boost the release of endorphins, the happy hormones. Joke around with your friends, do something that will make you laugh, or watch/read something funny.
- Turn up the music
Research shows that listening to soothing music can lower blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety. Listen to some relaxing music or nature sounds (ocean waves) to feel an instant bliss. You can also turn up the music with your favourite songs, and dance and sing your lungs out! That will instantly improve your mood and reduce the stress!
- Watch your food
What we eat and drink massively impacts our emotional state. The beverages mostly associated with increased stress levels are the ones containing caffeine or alcohol. Those drinks can increase stress, irritability and nervousness, so if you are under stress you want to make sure you cut these out of your diet. If you drink coffee daily, decrease the consumption gradually to reduce the withdrawal symptoms. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Research shows that imbalance in the gut bacteria can lead to increased symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders. Eliminate sugar and processed foods, and consume more fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich foods, and some pickles or sauerkraut. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that you can get from fermented foods that stimulate the immune system. Avoid foods that might cause hormonal imbalance such as hormone-fed animal products (dairy and meat).
- Establish a sleep routine
Sleep deprivation can lead to irritability and increase stress. Establish your daily ritual that you repeat before you go to bed. It will give a signal to your body that is bed time and will make you fall asleep quickly. Avoid having electronics in your bedroom. This is the place where you should do only two things. Don’t watch TV, be on your computer or phone, it will not make you sleep better. I like to drink a herbal tea an hour before I go to bed, and I take a shower just before I slip under the covers. It makes me more aware that is sleep time.
- Take time just for yourself every day
It can be only 10 minutes. Be with yourself, do something that you truly enjoy and makes you happy. Being selfish is good sometimes, and developing the ability to say “NO” will greatly reduce your stress levels when you are trying to please everyone.
- Be grateful
Keep a gratitude journal to help you remember all the good things in your life. When you feel stressed look at your journal and read what you have listed. Being grateful shifts your mind to all the positive events in your life and cancels out negative thoughts and worries. Celebrate yourself when you have accomplished something and give yourself some love.
