There are a million things I have to do right now
I don’t have the time
I’m working more than I ever have
I feel exhausted, even when I get enough sleep
I’m so stressed out
It’s the sign of the times. Our levels of stress about our health, our family, our work and the world seem to close in on us. Chronic stress can lead to adrenal fatigue. Cortisol is the main hormone produced when you feel anxiety and nervousness, it is nature’s way to manage the stress in our bodies. When the body is continually pumped up with cortisol it can wreak havoc.
Here are some of the symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue:
- Waking up in the night
- Inability to fall asleep
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Midday Fatigue
- Craving sweet and salty foods
- Weakened immunities to colds and infections
- Diminished Sex Drive
- Loss of muscle mass and strength
Whether it’s added work, changes at home, or problems with scheduling-there are times that stress cannot be avoided. It is when chronic, stress can create more problematic health issues such as;
- Heart problems
- Diabetes
- Low immunity to disease and infection
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Accelerated aging
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Headaches and Migraines
Here are some things you can do to reduce stress:
Look for an Expert: Go get the help you need. Whether it be a specialist in yoga, a guru for meditation, or an expert in productivity. Seek to get the help you need to lower your stress and stay healthy.
Deep breathing: Stop and take a few deep breaths. Sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing through the nose for 5 counts. Deep and full breaths are a quick way to reduce the stress and the release of cortisol. This activates the relaxation response in your brain. Focusing on your breath naturally begins to slow it down.
Learn to say “No”: It’s a no brainer that added responsibilities and taking on more will lead to more stress. If you’ve added too much onto your plate, you need to say “no”. Create boundaries and stick to them. Protect your time. Learn to say ‘no’ whether it’s in your personal or professional life.
Take a break: Step away from your computer. Get outside and connect with nature. The natural outdoors counters our high-tech life. You can lower stress by reconnecting with the great outdoors.
Take Control: Control your calendar by blocking out chunks of time to work on projects. If work overload is an issue, look to delegating items you can take off your list.
Be Accountable: As a deadline nears and your stress levels rise. You may have procrastinated and put tasks on the back burner. The struggle to get it all done and manage the stress becomes difficult. Using a supportive group of people to help walk you through tasks each day and hold you accountable can decrease your stress and increase your success. Join Get On Track Together Accountability Group.
Margo Crawford is a Productivity Coach with Wave Productivity. She works with entrepreneurs, small business owners and business professionals to help them get more focused, organized and productive in their workplace. Schedule a call today to discuss your productivity challenges.