When we get stressed, it gets so easy to reach out for comfort snacks. Just one more scoop of ice cream, or 1 more chip. And we can’t seem to stop. Then we get too full for a proper meal or skip a meal to “even out the calories” but just get hungry again later on to repeat the whole cycle. So how do we fight the urge to stress-eat?

1. Breathe, hydrate & walk

Remind ourselves that we aren’t really hungry and we just need a break. 

Take a few deep breaths, slowly (count to three per breath), ideally at a window, so that we can feel the fresh rush of air. 

Drink a glass of water, perhaps with a lemon slice, to refresh our senses, as dehydration leads to fatigue. 

Walk from room to room or step out, even if it’s just to the lift lobby downstairs, for a change in environment. This gets the blood pumping and we will instantly feel better and forget that craving. 

2. Sleep more, sleep early

PRIORITISE SLEEP. Insufficient sleep makes us cranky and upsets our gut system. Lack of sleep and sleeping late increases our stress hormone cortisol which increases our lower belly fat and bloating. It’s difficult for accustomed night owls to hit the sack early all of a sudden, so accommodate by sleeping earlier 10 minutes each day to slowly bring forward bedtime to before 11 pm.

3. Create a positive work environment

Whether it’s work-from-home or not, create a positive work environment by keeping our workstation tidy. If resources permit, indulge in music or aromatherapy to calm the senses. Even if kids are running amok behind us, at least our auditory and olfactory nerves are soothed. A lemongrass-eucalyptus-bergamot essential oil blend is uplifting and clears the respiratory tracts.

4. Meditation

Sitting still for hours on end is not everyone’s cup of tea, but you don’t need that to meditate. It can be cooking, gardening, knitting, doodling, building toy sets or even just taking green walks. Remember, our form of meditation need not be the same as any other person’s. It’s our safe zone of comfort for our relaxation.

5. Ventilate

Take a deeper look into the roots of our stress and talk it out. Can our partner or family member, colleague or boss help out?  If it’s difficult to talk specifically to address the stress, vent the stress to a third party. A listening ear of a friend can be all it takes to bring clarity to an issue and take the stress down by a notch or two.