When longevity is the topic, a lot is being said about what will bring it about: eating the right kinds of food, getting enough exercise, and good genes. According to many studies, these are the secrets towards aging beautifully and living long. However, there is one more key that needs to be included in this list, and it’s called proper or effective stress management.
According to the author of the book “Stress Less: The New Science That Shows Women How to Rejuvenate the Body and the Mind” Thea Singer, studies have shown that there is a direct link between psychological stress and biological aging. Based on a landmark study, chronic stress negatively affects the DNA, literally gnawing them, which in effect speeds up the rate at which the cells age. This is according to 2009 Nobel Prize-winning cell biologist Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D., and health psychologist Elissa S. Epel, Ph.D., both from the University of California in San Francisco.
So what does it mean to manage stress effectively?
It simply means responding properly to stress. It means acting, instead of fretting, in the face of stress. Thea Singer points out in her book that numerous studies have shown that people who felt that they were in control actually looked different from people who felt that they were not. According to her, it’s really about the way people look at stress; people can not change their circumstances, but they can certainly change the way they look at circumstances.
Things to do to Deal with Stress Effectively
o Exercise – Regular exercise is a proven method of relieving stress. Walking is ideal; you may walk around your neighborhood or at the park for 30 minutes and this will do you wonders. If you don’t feel like going out, hit the treadmill and do at least 30 minutes everyday. You can also do aerobic exercises. Do some stretching as this relieves muscle tension. Breathing exercises can also help relieve stress.
o Get Enough Sleep – When a person is sleep-deprived, or when he is sleeping less, his stress threshold is low.
o Eat Right – What will work is minding what is being eaten, which means eating the right kinds of food and consuming the right quantity.
o Think Positive – This means to focus on the positive rather than the negative; to look for the good things in everything. It also means focusing on others rather than the self by doing something nice for someone else on a regular basis.
Stress is a fact of life, and whether we like it or not, there will always be moments in our lives when we will experience it. But it’s something that can be managed, and when done so effectively, it helps keep us young and vibrant and healthy. The four suggestions above are simple and doable; try to do them when you feel stress is getting hold of you.
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