Over the years I have been to seminars, read research and consulted many patients on how to manage the mental, emotional and physical effects of stress. What I have found from all these sources is that any effective stress reducing technique will almost always have to incorporate some form of “getting away”. Whether it be going to the gym to workout, taking a walk or hike outdoors, going for a road trip type drive, getting out of town, or taking an actual vacation, they all have one thing in common. They get you away either physically or mentally or both, from your typical routine environment. Even meditating, participating in sports, getting a spa or massage treatment or just sitting and enjoying the great outdoors gets you away mentally, if not physically.
Seems that all of these activities tend to get our minds off our internal mental dialogue and get us more back into experiencing the present. We humans are unique in that we tend to worry about the past and the future instead of just experiencing the present. While this ability allows us to conceive, plan and achieve amazing things (compared to other creatures) it also creates the majority of our stress. This is manifested first mentally which in turn is translated into a physical reaction. If our internal dialogue is chaotic, disjointed, with unresolved issues that you can’t seem to find solutions to, then the mental experience is unpleasant, if not painful and stressful.
Eventually the effect is translated to your physical body. Blood pressure and heart rate rises, digestion is disrupted, hormones (bodys’ regulators) are unbalanced, immune function is depressed… are all examples of just a few of the negative effects stress can have on our bodies. If the stress continues the effects will escalate and eventually contribute to decreased quality and length of life.
This is becoming more and more prevalent in modern societies as our daily activities become less physical and outdoorsy in nature and become more mental exertion in indoor environments. In fact many have claimed that stress is the scourge of modern living, and they may well be right. Certainly no one can argue that it has a very significant impact on our health and well being. In light of this it would be a good idea to have strategies to help alleviate the effects of stress. What they are isn’t as important as making sure they incorporate as much of a “getting away” component as possible. They should also be as regular as is possible and practical. Some daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly.
An example would be gym daily, movie and dinner weekly, weekend out of town monthly, out of state short 3-5 day vacation quarterly, and out of country longer 7-10 day vacation yearly. The daily and weekly usually are relatively easy to decide on and make as automatic routine. The monthly, quarterly, and yearly can be a little trickier as they usually involve getting away from your home base. This can require some logistical effort as travel, lodging, meals, etc… need to be considered and planned. This can make the trip stressful, before and during. Obviously this can be counter productive and is where it is very helpful to have either a travel agent or belong to a travel club.
Many people are finding travel clubs the way to go, not just for the convenience but for the deep discounts that are offered. Other benefits include a huge selection of travel and recreational choices to fit just about anyones preferences, budget and timetable. A lot of the offerings are all inclusive where lodging, travel, and meals are all taken care of, making the process fun and stress free. Many of these clubs also offer the opportunity for members to participate as business owners and make additional income. A search of the internet reveals here are many to choose from. One that has started, has many of the before mentioned benefits, and is very affordable, is Tripazon Travel. However you decide to do it, just make sure you find a way to make “getting away” a part of your regular routine.
As Always…
Yours in health,
Dr. Daniel Klein, D.C.
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