How to Prevent the Development of Blood Sugar Problems (Part Five)
Manage Stress
Stress is one of the most difficult problems to manage for people in today’s world. You have to balance responsibilities at work, with your family, and in many cases just staying afloat in a turbulent economy. Illness is also a stressor that can make life difficult.
Managing stress can help you to take better care of your body. It will prevent problems with emotional eating, depression, and can take physical stress off of your muscles and heart. If you have a very stressful lifestyle, you need to take control of it and find ways to release stress before it turns on you and causes health problems.
Don’t Overschedule
Learn to say no when you don’t have time to complete a task. Keep your “to do” list to no more than about 10 items. Becoming overscheduled can lead you to major stress and tension. This state is not good for your body.
Keep a calendar, but only keep one. Many people have 4 or 5 different calendars – electronic and paper, family and work. But you should decide on one method and stick to it. This will keep all the information in one spot.
Take a Break
Some people like to meditate in a specific way, but even just taking a minute or two each day to stop what you’re doing and breathe deeply can help wash away tension. You can also try CDs and books that assist with guided meditation.
In addition to meditating, many people find the practice of yoga to be a relaxing way to take a break and focus on releasing tension from the body. You can take a class or simply get a DVD that takes you through the poses.
Become a Joiner
Every person needs a friend. If you find that you’ve become socially isolated, try joining a group of people with similar interests. There are many types of groups you can join where you’ll meet people with whom you have common activities or hobbies. For example:
- A church group
- Knitting group
- Hiking club
- Outdoor adventure group
- Book club
- Community college class/workshop
- Craft class or club
- Volunteer organization
Research shows that joining a social group that meets regularly can improve your level of happiness and reduce your stress. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the group that’s right for you – don’t give up if you have one bad experience.
Seek Support
There are situations where problems with stress can lead to depression. In those cases, you may need to seek some professional help through a mental health professional. It can help to talk through what’s going on and have an objective person to help you develop a plan.
Don’t be afraid to seek help if you need it. Most people find that a few sessions with a counselor can help to get things back on track. Together you can work to create strategy to help deal with your stress and prevent future problems.
Related posts:
- How to Prevent the Development of Blood Sugar Problems (Part One)
- How to Prevent the Development of Blood Sugar Problems (Part Two)
- How to Prevent the Development of Blood Sugar Problems (Part Four)
- How to Prevent the Development of Blood Sugar Problems (Part Three)
- Understanding the Risk Factors for Diabetes (Part Three)
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