So you’ve been eating carefully & exercising regularly but are still gaining weight, getting tired more quickly, or just feeling old?

What’s the most common culprit? Stress.

Stress levels are at an all-time high. Although a bit of stress is beneficial, the world has changed so much that the amount of stress we have to cope with in today’s world is not normal. For this reason, knowing how to reduce stress levels effectively is necessary for our health and ability to thrive.

Here are five tips that, if committed to, will help reduce stress levels, reclaim your wellness, and live in optimal metabolic health.

(An optimal metabolic health means we lose weight easily and feel fit and energetic. Our inflammatory levels are low, and we slow down ageing.)

1. Breathe Correctly
 

Breathing through your nose (the correct way) helps to activate the parasympathetic (relax) nervous system. Breathing through your mouth (common but incorrect) activates the sympathetic (stress) nervous system.

Helpful Tip: Spending 10 mins twice daily deep breathing through your nose helps to keep you calm, reduce your blood pressure and stay centered & balanced.
 

2. Vagus Nerve Reset
 

 
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in our spine and counteracts the fight/flight (sympathetic) response. When stimulated, we feel more loving & compassionate, less angry & anxious.

Resetting our vagus nerve is a simple & valuable method to release trauma stored in the body and to feel calm & relaxed, helping to increase mental strength & resilience.

A quick exercise to activate your vagus nerve.

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Helpful Tip: Do this as often as required to immediately shift your nervous system from sympathetic (stress) to parasympathetic (relax).
 

3. Sleep Early, Sleep More
 

Sleeping early and getting enough rest is a smart way to stay on top of cortisol (stress) levels. Chronic stress increases inflammation, causes us to feel bloated, flabby, and achy, and makes us age faster. A simple solution? Have a sleep ritual to help you wind down and go into a deep sleep. It’s worthwhile to prioritize your sleep every night as you enjoy incredible benefits to your health and well-being.

Helpful Tip: Turn your bedroom into a shrine – keep it dark & cool, use clean, fresh-smelling sheets, and make it gadget-free. Switch to airplane mode if you use your phone as an alarm clock.
 

4. Take Sleep & Stress Support Supplements.
 

Unlike medication, supplements help to promote well-being and usually have minimal side effects relating to dependence or tolerance. Taking supplements such as magnesium can help improve sleep quality.

Magnesium is a nutrient that is likely deficient, especially if you’re chronically stressed and not sleeping well. Magnesium can help with many issues, including sleep, stress, headaches, muscle aches, hormone health, and living in zen-like calm.

Helpful Tip:  They have worked well for many (no more tossing & turning or waking up in the middle of the night) to help switch our minds off and get (much-needed) deep beauty sleep. Ask us if you need help choosing the right supplement for you.
 

5. Functional Magnetic Stimulation
 

Functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) uses magnetic energy to strengthen & build muscle and reduce body aches & pains. They are used to tone and strengthen the core, lift and shape the buttock and relieve pain issues (e.g., back pain). Best of all, it is a fabulous way to relax and reduce stress.

Helpful Tip: Spending an hour a week on functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) is the ultimate self-care treatment for every aspect of your well-being, from physical, mental & emotional, helping to boost your metabolic health and feel youthful & confident.