Self care IS health care….

Today try a walking meditation in a park or garden. Walk extra slowly, synchronizing your breathing with your steps, so with each step you take a breath in or out. This connects you with your body.

Are you constantly spinning your way through the week ?

Are you trying to juggle work, family, home and struggling to keep all balls in the air?!

Our bodies are still wired to prehistoric times, but our stressors have changed dramatically over thousands of years. Previously we would have encountered a deadly animal whilst walking out in the wild searching for food. The natural response here was fight or flight, do we stay and fight or do we run the hell out of there??!! Whatever decision is made a substance is released to stimulate the adrenals to release adrenaline and cortisol. This provides the body with everything it needs to react quickly.

Once the threat is gone, our adrenals stop pumping hormones and everything should return to normal.

Previously – YES!

In our lives today – NO!

Today we are not a spear-wielding attacker of a sabre tooth tiger, we are fighting deadlines, traffic and children! This means we are often functioning on a low-level chronic stress, so are in a constant state of over-production of adrenaline and cortisol.

Adrenaline keeps up alert and focused.

Cortisol increases fat and sugar in the blood stream in preparation for activity, if there is no activity this is re-deposited as fat.

The cortisol levels remain high and the body thinks it needs refueling after the fight or flight scenario, therefore your appetite increases!!

And where is this all deposited?

Around your middle…

It’s time to lose the stress

“Changes that I’ve noticed since the course:  I have become more mindful.  Best example being my driving!  I have slowed down, stopped being heavy footed.  Not only has this helped me to feel calmer and less stressed, but also I’m saving money on fuel as I am driving more economically!  I have started reading again, having stopped after I returned to work after my surgery last year.  Am trying to introduce more proper “me time”. Thank you so much Emma for pointing me in the right direction after I have been lost trying to find my way out of the maze of bad habits and poor choices.”

How can you relax? I have posted my thoughts below but you may well be able to think of more:

1. Colouring
2. Meditation (https://www.headspace.com/ and https://www.calm.com/ are a great place to start for this)
3. Listening to music
4. Going out for a walk in nature
5. Massage

These don’t need to be time-consuming, a few minutes per day can produce great results!

Remember:

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

Have a great week and keep me posted on your self-care efforts.

Emma