Feeling overwhelmed? Are your muscles constantly feeling clamped up? Is your mind constantly running and you have trouble shutting down the chatter? You’re not alone…

Nowadays, our culture and environment ensure that we are exposed to so many different stressors that they are even becoming difficult to identify! Ranging from the electromagnetic radiation emanating from cell phones, to the chemicals present in foods, to keeping ourselves overly busy, and a lack of daily exercise.

One would conclude that it is impossible to avoid stress in our lives entirely. So, why even try? Outlined below are a few tips and techniques that will go a long way to show you that it is possible to live a very happy, balanced and healthy lifestyle, regardless of your surroundings.

In my practice, I would define stress as whatever takes a person out of balance. Whether that be physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually, or a combination of all. As we are whole beings, we have many aspects to ourselves that play a role in our overall health. When any of these aspects become out of balance, it allows for an illness or a disease state to take hold within an individual. On the up side, stress is a very good first indicator to you that you need to pay attention to something in your life that is out of balance, and to address it before any illness or disease sets in. It is a warning signal!

 As a naturopath, my ultimate goal in treatment is to teach the prevention of disease and to educate each individual about their own particular stressors, and how to reduce and better manage them.

Here are a few general tips and guidelines that everyone can use to reduce, and to prevent the general stressors within their environment:

1. Reduce or avoid foods that are packaged or processed as much as possible. If you can’t pronounce the ingredient, it doesn’t belong in the body.
2. Try to go organic where you can; to avoid pesticides and nutrient deficient foods.
3. Don’t keep your cell phones on your body for long periods of time. The electromagnetic radiation weakens your energy systems. I can show you how it does in my office!
4. Home cook your meals, that way you can control the ingredients. Keep it simple!
5. Use environmentally friendly cleaning and detergent products. I use the Norwex company products and simple vinegar and lemon as cleaners. I have a few Facebook posts (shared from ‘Clean My Space’) on how to do this.

We all try to take the time every day to take care of our bodies. We apply moisturizing creams in an attempt to appear younger and to hopefully slow down the aging process. The beauty industry promises us beauty in a bottle with various creams and procedures that supposedly reduce the development of wrinkles and signs of aging. Yet, these rarely address the underlying causes that induce our bodies to age in the first place. External product use generally doesn’t teach us how to keep in touch with our body, nor our mental and emotional states.

The ultimate fountain of youth is actually reducing our stressors and adding in relaxation and energy balancing techniques to our daily routines. These allow us to become more in touch with our bodies and self, and aid to reduce and prevent the development of disease. The result is a more balanced mental, emotional, spiritual and physical YOU.

Here are some Tips and Techniques to reduce overall stress/stressors, if you want some specific examples download my free special report by opting-in to my website:

1. Slow down! Take time for yourself. Do a hobby that you love!
2. Breathe! Stop and take a full breath. It will do wonders for your mood, concentration and digestive system.
3. Bowen, Reiki and acupuncture are all great modalities that will help you re-set and keep your body and its energy systems in balance. Each modality is outlined on my website!
4. Stretching the body allows for the proper flow of the energy through the body, and allow for more blood, oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and tissues of the body.
5. Laugh and play more!

Checking in with your body and self everyday will go a long way in maintaining a very happy and healthy state of being. Nothing in a bottle can take the place of this self-time for your overall balance and well-being. Being youthful and exuding lots of energy and enthusiasm for life are mainly internal processes that are worthwhile to master!

You will be amazed at how these simple techniques make it easier to deal with your everyday stressors and allow you to feel more relaxed, refreshed and energized! If you want a healthcare practitioner that can help you deal with your daily stressors, I would love to help! Email me at info@stephaniefarwellnd.ca or call my clinic at (519) 954-9168.

‘Remember, health doesn’t need to be complicated. Keep it simple!’

~ Dr. Stephanie Farwell, ND