8 Ways to naturally combat stress in the Modern world

National Stress Awareness Day took place this week and it's something I feel it's important to talk about as stress is something I have certainly struggled with over the past few years and it can cause real havoc for both your physical and mental wellbeing. I think we are more aware than ever that more and more of us suffer from things like stress and anxiety and it's easy to see why life has become increasingly manic and busy as well as more expensive with longer working hours and less free time. Living in today's world is massively different to our parent's generation and even when I was younger, it wasn't really until I was in my teens that mobile phones were even accessible to the masses (anyone remembers beepers?). In today's busy times we find ourselves having to navigate real life, online life, social media, heavy workloads, lack of support, kids, family and everything in-between and it's exhausting

I find it's really important to know and recognise the first signs of stress so you can tackle them straight away and they include irritability, feeling tense, difficulty sleeping, lack of concentration and anxiety. The one positive thing about stress is it is manageable but you do need to get on top of as soon as you feel it creeping in rather than waiting to the point when you feel totally overwhelmed.

Like many people, I prefer to seek out natural ways to improve my well-being and there are some really simple tips to help reduce your stress levels, especially in the run-up to Christmas. I thought I would share what has helped the most and gets me through those times when I feel stretched and off-balance, this can range from easy tasks such as aiming to get outdoors more, meditating, drinking more herbal tea or even an uptake in sleep vitamins to help you get a good night sleep. and therefore reducing stress. 

1. Talk about it - a problem shared is a problem halved as they say. There is real power in talking through things, it gives you a platform to share your fears and put them out into the Universe and let friends and family know how you feel. You will also be surprised at how much support you may get back in return, even if it's just a shoulder to lean on of a family member who offers to watch the kids for an hour so you can have a hot bath, the little things can really help.

2. Devise a clear and doable plan of action. I often feel stress creeps in when I have so many things to do and no clear plan of getting them all done especially when I am time short. By making a clear list of the most important tasks that need to be done first can give you a real plan of how to proceed and get those tasks that are hanging over you ticked off. You may feel that you also need to integrate some supplements and want to be clear that it will aid the rest of your plan, things like cbd and cannabis tinctures can help. 

3. Get outdoors for some fresh air - nature has that fantastic ability to put things into perspective especially if you work from home. A change of scenery when you're feeling a bit off of things are getting on top of you is really good because those issues giving you problems at home or your office don't have to follow you outside. Switch your phone off and just go for a walk, it can really do wonders.

4. Have a hobby you really enjoy that is completely detached from work or home life. If you love swimming, painting or in my case skateboarding then do it! Doing things that make you feel good help release endorphins and those feel-good chemicals in your brain help you feel calmer, happier and less stressed.

5. Drink herbal Tea - Both Peppermint and Chamomile teas have been used to help relieve tension and stress for years and are both caffeine-free and great just before bed. I personally find Chamomile very calming and helps me to sleep when I am feeling particularly overwhelmed and insomnia starts to keep in, making things worse. There are also a lot of positive early studies that microdosing on things like mushrooms (which can also be drunk as a tea), can help to enhance your mood and reduce stress and anxiety. Of course, a lot of research needs to be done and you need to know all the risks, pros and cons when it comes to first trying something like that (at your own risk). A reputable mushroom dispensary should be able to offer more insight into this as well as stock high-quality products to try.

6. Consider trying a traditional herbal remedy - if you are really starting to feel like it's becoming all too much and it's affecting things like sleep. Of course, it's important to discuss taking any remedies with your doctor ao please do this first! Many people have found some success with herbal remedies such as Passionflower and Valerian Root. Furthermore, Kava is a popular herbal remedy, with many people seeing it as a valuable medicine that helps to combat stress. Kava helps to lift the mood which automatically makes the brain feel less stressed. Another natural plant-based remedy is Kratom, which comes from Southeast Asia, and can provide stress relief, among other benefits, when taken at the correct dose. There is a range of brands of kratom out there, and not all deliver a good product, so you should make sure that you buy from an approved vendor to make sure you are getting the best quality kratom possible. When it comes to stress relief, CBD is commonly used for this purpose, too. CBD can often come in the form of oil, gummies, tablets, Organic CBD Nugs (which you smoke), and can even be added to water. It doesn't really matter which form you take, there may be some trial and error to start with to see what works for you best. I would always advise getting it from a well-known & high-quality store such as Gold Bee as the concentration of CBD is often purer than cheaper brands.

7. Eat healthily and top up on B Vitamins - we are all aware that food plays a big part in our well-being and often when we are stressed we tend to not eat the right things which can sometimes only make it worse. Making sure you are nourishing yourself with healthy and balanced meals is only a positive move. Also cutting down on Caffeine and Alcohol is also important as both of these can increase anxiety and stress in the long term. B Vitamins are also known to promote the proper functioning of the nervous system and can naturally help to make you feel more relaxed and fight fatigue.

8. Sleep - personally I find that when I start to get very stressed I struggle to get a good night's sleep but it's just so important to make sure your body rests so you can face the day as a good night's sleep is one of the biggest natural stress reducers. Lack of sleep can cause irritability and make you feel less able to cope with things. Getting into a good sleep routine is really important to make sure to put down the phone or avoid screens for at least an hour before bedtime and take a nice hot bath.

It's really important to address your stress levels if it's starting to affect your life as stress can affect many areas of our lives in a negative way as well as physical and mental health so should not be overlooked. Remember to give yourself time, space and share what you're going through with family and friends. I also have a blog post on reducing stress while travelling overseas and 5 simple ways to bring calm into the home