Stress Level Zone:
WELL-MANAGED
Stress is minimal and you feel good each day. You take steps to keep stress from impacting your health.
Your survey score indicated you are living in a WELL-MANAGED stress zone. This means that your body is using normal energy for the "fight or flight" response, and you feel strong and energized most days. The sympathetic nervous system is healthy and active, but not overloaded, and prioritizing recovery and healthy habits should be the primary focus. You experience very few physical symptoms of stress. The key is maintaining daily practices that support stress management and reduction. Now's the time to be preventive!
*Based on your stress zone, you're managing stress well. This puts you in a great place to optimize habits, and we want to offer this webinar to you at no charge. Strategies are developed around our clinical experience treating patients and helping people reduce stress and live a more energized, joyful life.
WELL-MANAGED
MODERATE
HIGH
SEVERE
Recommendations for Your Stress Management
When stress is well-managed, you are feeling good throughout the day, and energy is high and consistent. The great news is you can even further optimize your habits to help you stay on top of what life throws at you! There are simple things you can do today to reduce stress and improve well-being.
The key is maintaining a calm sympathetic nervous system, your "fight or flight" response. This will help keep lower cortisol levels in the blood stream, reduce inflammation, reduce blood pressure, and allow the body to devote resources to other physiological needs, like cellular repair, and overall better recovery.
With WELL-MANAGED stress, it shows that you consider the full context of health. This includes your physical, mental and emotional well-being. That awareness and attention keeps stress levels low and allows you to feel like the best version of yourself.
The focus should be on continued prevention of stress through healthy daily habits and utilizing the strategies below.
** This information is for educational purposes only and does not take the place of medical advice. Consult your trusted practitioner with questions about your specific health situation.
Get Regular Exercise
This helps reduce inflammation, release "feel good" hormones, and relieve stress from the body. If you haven't been active or moving regularly, it can feel hard to start. Don't worry, even 10 minutes a day will get your momentum going. A walk, some stretching, or a few sets of body-weight exercises can serve as a jumping off point. Aim to move intentionally 3-5x per week. Exercise provides stress relief and enhances mood almost immediately.
Use Relaxation Techniques
This includes breath work, meditation, yoga, etc. Yes, these things REALLY do help tremendously. These practices help downgrade nervous system activity so your body can shift out of "fight or flight". Start with the "box breath": Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, then hold for 4 counts. Repeat for cycles of 5 box breaths. Simple breathing exercises can be done anywhere, anytime.
Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol
Caffeine is a stimulant that can tax the adrenal glands, a key part of our stress response system. Alcohol is a depressant and has multiple negative impacts on the body and brain, further decreasing our ability to manage stress. Either of these in excess (or even moderation) can cause feelings of anxiety, sleep disturbance, and poor energy, inhibiting your ability to manage stress.
Optimize with Supplements
There are many helpful supplements, herbs and nutrients that can support the body in managing stress. In times of chronic stress, our body can become depleted or run-down. Targeted supplements can be a huge support and dramatically improve how you feel. Benefits include increased mood, reduced symptoms of stress/anxiety, support for adrenal function and nervous system function, improved alertness, and relaxation.
Supplements for this ZoneGet Outside in Natural Light
Seem simple? It is. Being in nature is one of the most straight-forward things you can do to reduce stress, and it's research-backed. Being in natural light helps regulate our circadian rhythm, which is responsible for our sleep cycle. Lack of natural light, combined with excessive exposure to blue light from screens can disrupt your sleep hormones and lead to poor sleep. This further disregulates your nervous system, making it harder to manage stress.
Limit or Avoid Stress Triggers
We do have some control over what we expose ourselves to and the type of "input" we allow. Limiting potential stress triggers is a crucial stress management tool. This can include stressful relationships, news & social media, excessive screen time, certain environments, or toxic behaviors. Seek out professional help, like counseling, if you are having trouble identifying your stress triggers.
Meet the founders of OptimizeYou
We are Steph Saffer and Sarah Hayes, licensed acupuncturists working together for over a decade. With a cumulative 27+ years of experience, we know that stress is a major struggle for people, and we've witnessed firsthand the toll it can take on a person.
Yes, there's seemingly endless remedies out there. But health is not flashy. And after thousands of patient encounters, we have learned what it takes to help you reduce stress and get you feeling like the person you want to be.
No matter your stress level, we've got solutions for you. We help people overcome these challenges every day, and our goal is to get you feeling like the best version of yourself. Start with these recommendations. It's an incredible first step, and we'll be here when you're ready for the next one!
Learn about next steps...