Stressed is Desserts spelled backward- I have always thought that was an interesting coincidence;)


This time of year the stress levels seem to amp up a bit, I don’t know about you but as soon as we flip the calendar to October it seems like we blink and it’s January 1st.

Stress is a part of life, we don’t get to take up space on this planet without ever experiencing some type of stress. Stress and anxiety have multiple causes. One study states that anxiety is 26% genetic but the other 74% comes down to environment, past experiences/traumas, and lifestyle choices.

That’s empowering, right? Knowing that YOU have a say over how you experience or don’t experience stress and anxiety.

“Stress is something in the environment, an external pressure on us, whereas anxiety is our internal experience of this pressure”

Based on this definition, I am high anxiety and I am willing to bet most recovering perfectionists out there can identify with this!

So as they say in functional medicine: The genes load the gun but the environment pulls the trigger.

What can you do to manage stress?

Here are 4 quick ways to approach it. (from the book we are reading in my Holiday Survival Book Club)

1. Avoid: When you avoid stress, you are not running away from problems. You are just learning to say "NO" to situations, people, or activities that demand too much of your mental energy, time, and attention

2. Alter: When you can't avoid the stressor, you can alter how you approach it. Break the task into smaller, more manageable pieces, and be sure you are communicating your feelings to others

3. Accept: this doesn’t mean pretending you like a situation. Recognize your emotions and practice forgiveness. Try reframing how you are approaching or looking at the situation or event

4. Adapt: more of a long-term solution to stress and anxiety management. Building our own resilience to life’s events helps us respond vs react. Live your values, start a gratitude journal, meditate, spend time in nature, use breathwork or HeartMath

Let me know if you try any of the Four A’s and which one resonates most with you!