Another blog post from Ann Arbor chiropractor, Mike Tannenbaum, D.C.: How to Have a More Stress-Free Life 

Stress – we all experience it, and some more than others. Too much stress can be hard on your physical and mental health. Stress can cause – or increase the chance of getting – headaches, nervousness, anxiety, obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal issues, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and even death. Reducing stress helps prevent all kinds of health complications, more than just those listed above. 

So, how do you reduce stress? Below are some suggestions we give our patients at our Ann Arbor chiropractic office. 

Positive thinking: Negative thoughts can be very stress-inducing. So, as much as possible, look at things in a positive light. A “glass half full” approach is much less stress-inducing than a “glass half empty” approach. 

Eat healthy foods: You should maintain a diet low in sodium, sugar, refined carbohydrates, hydrogenated fats, and high in fruits and vegetables. Your diet should also be low in alcohol if you do choose to drink. Don’t consume caffeinated drinks close to bedtime: caffeine can cause difficulty sleeping, which can also be stress-inducing. Avoid artificial sweeteners and, obviously, avoid foods that you might have a food sensitivity too. 

Exercise regularly: Exercising regularly has been shown to reduce stress. 

Practice relaxation techniques: In certain environments you may find it difficult to relax, causing you stress. Luckily, though, there are many relaxation techniques you can learn to help you relax even in those “difficult to relax” environments. 

Make sure your goals and expectations are realistic: Attempting to do things that you can’t accomplish can be very stress-inducing, and sometimes certain goals and expectations can be so stress-inducing that they’re not worth attempting. One common technique is to break tasks into smaller, more manageable ones.  

Have a healthy sense of self-worth and know yourself: That is, believe in yourself and know yourself well enough not to do things that you know you can’t accomplish. At the same time feel confident in doing what you know you can do. 

Reducing your stress level can be lifesaving, helping you have a healthier life. Above I’ve listed a number of suggestions we at Tannenbaum Chiropractic in Ann Arbor give our patients to help them accomplish a less stressful life. 

If you have any questions about this blog post, chiropractic, back pain, neck pain, or headaches, I can be contacted at our Ann Arbor chiropractic office at [email protected]. 

Information contained in this blog post is for information only and is not to be considered medical advice.