It's the mind that needs to rest. Photo / Getty Images
It's the mind that needs to rest. Photo / Getty Images
In this crazy, modern, fast paced world we live in, our minds tend to become filled with useless, tired info that clogs the system causing confusion, indecision, stagnation and life-threatening stress levels. Many people struggle to find time to regenerate, they are simply overwhelmed and exhausted.
Today's survival is differentfrom what our ancient ancestors dealt with. For the most part, they were up against physical survival and survived danger by activating their body's SNS – Sympathetic Nervous System.
This fight-or-flight system of survival played an important role. When a physical threat was perceived, neural connections boosted their body's glucose, circulation and heart rate while shutting off their immune response, digestion and rational thinking.
This increased their strength and stamina, allowing them to survive any immediate, physical peril.
Today, when confronted with danger, the fight-or-flight response still plays a major role. However, most of the so-called "danger felt" in our modern world is centred more around psychological threats, not the physical threats our ancient ancestors dealt with.
It's now our work deadlines, financial distress, personal and business relationships and the demands of home life that take centre stage when it comes to activating the sympathetic nervous system.
To survive we need a way to counteract all the negative health effects caused by this onslaught of over stimulation, excess work and over-scheduling, this high-pressured, stress-filled lifestyle.
We need to get our stress levels under control and learn techniques that relax the mind.
There are many different practices we can employ, it's simply a matter of personal taste and what works for us. Anything that calms us down, helps us to get centred and brings joy is the perfect solution.
The benefits of reduced stress levels and a relaxed brain/mind are many including but not limited to expanded motivation.
The body needs to be active. Photo / Getty Images
Motivation is the energy push needed to accomplish anything and stress is a motivation killer. After all, it's hard to generate motivation to focus and work on personal dreams when we're stressed about finances, work situations, business or personal relationships and all the other "gunk" that fills our heads.
A relaxed mind is the best way to kick in motivation because a calm, relaxed, collected mind is the breeding ground for inspiration and inspiration is what breeds motivation. Relaxing the mind and relieving stress not only increases inspiration, motivation and productivity, but our health enjoys a nice boost as well.
Improved health and happier outlook
Ongoing research reveals that our state of mind is empowered to enhance or decrease the effects of our immune system. Chronic stress negatively affects all aspects of our immunity and warding off everything from the common cold to cancer is compromised.
Reversely, a relaxed mind has our immune system humming at full capacity. Furthermore, a relaxed mind helps us to avoid insomnia and fall into a deep sleep and sleep is when our bodies regroup and replenish for the next day's activities.
Stress levels can negatively affect body weight too. Chronic prolonged stress causes the body to use protein rather than fat for fuel. When muscle mass is lost, our metabolic rate drops.
This results in holding onto or storing excess body fat and the resultant weight gain associated with it.
According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center neurosurgeon Adam Mamelak, our memories are stronger when memory-related neurons co-ordinate to theta waves while in learning mode.
Theta waves are associated with relaxation, so, when relaxed the brain is influenced by theta waves and stronger and more lasting memories are created.
Energy high
Stress causes fatigue and requires more energy than relaxing does. It steals away our energy reserves and leaves us void of the energy required to live the life we dream about, do the things that we love that excite us.
High stress levels reduce serotonin and dopamine, both important hormones when it comes to regulating our moods. Low levels of either contribute to depression, lethargy, anxiety, apathy and even binge eating.
There are multiple practices we can use to temper or relieve stress levels and reach a state of total relaxation.
Deep breathing
Most of the time we are shallow breathers, we need to learn to follow our breath in and out and pay attention as we breathe. We need to breathe deeply, drawing our breath deep down using our stomach muscles. Correct deep breathing can even cause the body to produce endorphins.
Being present in the moment/ turning into our body/ mindfulness – awareness is powerful. We can't change what we are not aware of and we are not aware if we are doing one thing and thinking of another.
Pay attention to our thoughts (our self-talk is either helping us or hurting us)
Yoga, meditation and repeating mantras and affirmations all work to reduce stress levels and increase vitality. But there is one more thing that is as powerful, if not the most powerful way to reduce stress and that thing is exercise.
Exercise
Staying physically active has always been associated with improving physical conditions, boosting the immune system and fighting disease. In fact, exercise is vital when it comes to maintaining mental fitness, feeling energised and reducing stress.
Exercise produces endorphins, the body's natural pain killers. When the body feels better, so does the mind.
Concentration, alertness and overall cognitive function all benefit from consistent, challenging exercise and even low to moderate exercise is empowered to make us feel energised and healthy.
The truth is, for many, the mind has been the active one and the body underactive. It's the mind that needs to rest (meditate and be peaceful) and the body that needs to be active (proper exercise)! That's the real dynamic duo!
