Take the 30-day challenge to decrease your stress
DID YOU KNOW that April is Stress Awareness Month?
Have you ever been told by a medical professional to decrease your stress? Much easier said than done! We know that long-term increased stress in our lives can result in high blood pressure, ulcers, headaches, lack of sleep, changes in appetite, and even cancer. However, having this knowledge does not always mean that we know how to lower our stress.
Stress can be defined as a “lack of control over the outcome of a situation; overwhelming responsibilities; changes in our life.” Even positive changes can result in stress. Finding ourselves in the midst of a pandemic for the past two years has caused considerable stress for us all and even more so for those who have cancer. Having an illness such as cancer is stressful enough, but when adding the isolation and fear that comes from the threat of COVID, it can become unbearable!
Stress Awareness Month has been held since April, 1992. It was begun to bring awareness to the causes and cures of this modern-day epidemic. The Stress Management Society has a 30-day challenge that one can download to help decrease stress while improving physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Because everyone has different ways of doing this, I thought that it may be beneficial to share some of mine:
• Massage
• Metropark trail walk
• Nature photography
• Journaling
• Art projects
• Reading
• Extra sleep.
What are your stress relievers? Make a list of them and concentrate on accomplishing at least one a day during this month. Who knows, it may become a new habit for you, which will serve to make you a healthier person.
Jean Schoen is the founder and president of Cancer Connection of Northwest Ohio, Inc. (419-725-1100). ✲
