We don’t notice how fast our lives are actually going while we’re in the moment. Before we know it, we have a stress build up but we were going too fast to notice. Breathe, pray, release the tension in your jaw and shoulders, notice when you rush, and take a minute to pause. The culture we live in is telling us that we must always rush, that we need to move from one thing to the next and everything requires a quick fix. Things take time and so does healing. Slow down, notice your rushed actions and take a moment to focus on what’s actually important.

When you are in a chronic stress state, your body has a hard time processing what you feed it. It can’t draw out nutrients when it is in a fight or flight response, and the immune system is already triggered. In turn, stress levels are raised even higher. You can be careful not to trigger the immune response by watching inflammatory food intake like sugar and processed foods, caffeine consumption, and replacing with things like water, and highly nutritious, anti-inflammatory foods (think plant based!).

Spend time alone and remove distractions like social media, constant noise and amusement. These things can take us away from the moment and the little things. Release tension and breathe slow. Activate the parasympathetic nervous system so your body can focus on rest and digest rather than fight and flight.

Gratitude can help you sleep better, be more resilient when it comes to mental or physical stress, build strong relationships, and keep you generally happier. Being happy and grateful contributes to whole body health and wellness. Prayer is having faith and getting your strength from God who provides it. Pray, knowing and trusting the Creator holds your life in his hands and loves you with an everlasting love.

Never underestimate a good night’s rest and the powerful affects it has on the body. Sleep is essential for repair and detoxification. If your body isn’t getting adequate sleep then stress levels will continue to rise and you will put yourself into an extreme exhaustive state where you will be forced to sleep and rest but not before harmful damage has been done.

There are plenty of toxins in this world that we live in and it would be next to impossible to remove all of them. But make the effort to avoid and remove them and your body will thank you. Toxins increase the stress response and put a lot of wear and tear on the body. Environmental toxins can be chemicals, mold, pollutants, fluoride, plastics and heavy metals.

Each individual is beautifully different in their own ways. We all have our own hobbies and things that help us relieve our stress. Do what you know relaxes you! It can be exercise, dancing, art, music, walking, watching a sunset, spending time with people you love, laughing. Ultimately, listen to your body when it’s stressed and do what you know will help you heal.