How does stress affect your health?
Dear Busy Girls Guide
I am a truly Busy Girl... I currently juggle two jobs - I'm a manager in a Manchester bank & mother of five & ten year old children, plus wife to my husband! I'm a happy person & work hard but driving to work in busy Manchester City Centre traffic, my job, the house & trying to spend enough time with the kids really stresses me out. I get up really early in the morning to get the kids ready for school then it takes me ages to get to work so
I'm stressed & flustered by the time I get there. My office is short-staffed & we have so many deadlines to meet I feel bad I can't stay with the others to catch up on the in-tray. My home life definitely suffers, the terrible traffic going home doesn't help my mood & when I get home I'm so tired I don't want to do anything but am faced with making dinner & cleaning up... my kids & husband need my attention too! I feel like the pressure is affecting my health. Please help..." Jane Williams, Northwich
Dear Jane,
Well done for recognising that something needs to change. We're delighted to advise you... our Lifestyle Experts really feel you need to handle your stress before it gets the better of you.
Don't be afraid to ask for help
Is there any chance you can chat with your boss about leaving on time so you don't run into so much traffic & can be in a better mood when you get home? You mention your husband - is there a chance be could help you to pick up the children from school or even help on occasion with dinner or tidying the house? If he helped you out, this would give you time to spend with the children after work.
What is stress?
As women, we play spouse, mother, caregiver, friend & often employee so we experience many levels of stress, from grief & depression through to daily life stress in the workplace & home.
Stress can take on many different forms & can easily contribute to symptoms of illness. Watch out for headaches, sleep disorders, difficulty concentrating, a short-temper, an upset stomach, job dissatisfaction, low morale, skin rashes, lack of energy, depression or anxiety.
How to handle your stress
Don't let stress make you ill. As Busy Girls, we tend to carry a higher burden of stress than we should so often we're not even aware of our stress levels.
Listen to your body so that you know when stress is affecting your health & follow our specifically tailored Busy Girls rules for a calmer, healthier you
1. Take 15 minutes out for yourself - It's important to care for yourself. Think of this as an order from your doctor so you don't feel guilty! No matter how busy you are, set aside at least 15 minutes each day in your schedule to do something for yourself, like taking a bubble bath, going for a walk or calling a friend.
2. Sleep -Sleeping is a great way to help both your body and mind. Your stress could get worse if you don’t get enough sleep. You also can't fight off sickness as well when you sleep poorly. Try to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
3. Eat well - Try to fuel up with fruits, vegetables & proteins like chicken or tuna salad. Eat whole-grains, such as wheat breads & Ryvita. Don't be fooled by the jolt you get from caffeine or sugar as your energy will soon wear off.
4. Get moving - Believe it or not, getting physical activity not only helps relieve your tense muscles but helps your mood too! Your body makes certain chemicals, called endorphins, before & after you work out. They relieve stress & improve your mood.
5. Talk to friends - Talk to your friends to help you work through your stress. Friends are good listeners. Finding someone who will let you talk freely about your problems & feelings without judging you does a world of good. It also helps to hear a different point of view. Friends will remind you that you're not alone.
6. Get help from a professional - Talk to a life coach or councillor. A lifestyle therapist can help you work through stress & find better ways to deal with problems.
7. Compromise - It's not always worth the stress to argue. Give in once in awhile. Write down your thoughts. Have you ever typed an email to a friend about your rubbish day & felt better afterwards? Why not grab a pen & paper & write down what's going on in your life! Keeping a journal can be a great way to get things off your chest & work through issues. Later, you can read it back & see how you've made progress!
8. Set limits - When it comes to things like work and family, figure out what you can really do. There are only so many hours in the day. Set limits with yourself & others. Don't be afraid to say NO to requests for your time and energy.
9. Plan your time - Think ahead about how you're going to spend your time. Write a to-do list. Figure out what's most important to do. Don't deal with stress in unhealthy ways. This includes drinking too much alcohol, using drugs, smoking, or overeating.
Try to relax Busy Girls... for more a private response please email me on experts@busygirlsguide.co.uk
Lucy O'Neill BA Hons, DipNM, PECI
Lifestyle Coach
Busy Girls Guide Manchester & Cheshire
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