We all complain about the weather, but it’s not usually a source of stress…because of course you can’t change it.
What about your ‘internal weather’?  Our biometrics and moods can be just as unpredictable as the weather outside; fortunately, there is a lot we can do to change and stabilize our internal weather.

Take stress. When we get stressed, we shift into “fight-or-flight” mode. This shift is evolutionary—over thousands of years, our systems have developed the ability to divert energy and resources towards dealing with whatever threat is at hand, essentially enhancing our ability to protect ourselves and loved ones. At the same time, other normal bodily functions—metabolism, respiration, immunity, digestion, are depressed or slowed down.

We evolved this fight or flight ability for very limited time periods and very specific dangers.

But what often happens during our busy postmodern lives? We get stuck in a stress loop.

Stress responses continue to bombard our nervous system, for hours or days on end.

Our nervous systems haven’t evolved at the same rate as our stress challenges. Instead of facing a specific, short-term threat— running from a tiger, for example—we face environmental stresses that are all around us. We’re trying to outrun the jungle.

If you’re feeling maxed out all the time, trapped in the jungle, your bodily system is going to suffer for it! Your ability to shift away from your sympathetic nervous response (fight-or-flight) and back into parasympathetic mode (rest-and-repair) is vital for overall health, now more than ever.

Here are some Nimble strategies for working on what you can change.

1. Change your Status: In a word: move! Our fight or flight response evolved from a basic need to act; either to fight the stressor or escape from it. We were made to move, so…get up! Take a walk around your office or around the block. Take a second to step away from your desk and breath slowly, through the nose and into your lower torso, for a minute or two.

2. Change your Surroundings: This can be another big hurdle, especially in more urban areas. If you’re thinking that the only way to truly de-stress is on a remote mountaintop, that’s a reach for most of us! But if you get a little creative, you’ll realize that opportunities for a re-set are everywhere. Your coffee table. A park bench. A back yard. An apartment building’s rooftop. Doesn’t have to be fancy, just a bit of personal space to tap into your breath, move a bit and re-set.

3. Change your Perspective: You’re not the only person who struggles with stress! At Nimble Fitness, we have found that the most consistently successful approach to managing stress is to be proactive, not reactive, with all the different stressors the day can bring. Start your day with calm; be calm first. You can make breathing exercises, meditation or a quiet walk a new, easy part of your morning ritual.

The simple truth is that you don’t need hours and hours of meditating or a spa day in the desert to effectively change your internal weather. We’re talking 5-10 minutes, a few times a day. These little chunks of quiet time have been proven to make a HUGE difference in managing stress levels and improving mindset.

In that moment, you can focus on anything–music, clouds, trees as you walk, even the sound of your breath–to reach a more balanced state. While our minds tend to wander, the act of slowing down and being present sends vital healing messages to your nervous system.

Fortunately, your body can’t tell whether you’re just stepping outside the office, meditating or performing tai chi; it takes its cues from your neuromuscular system. Those cues—lowering heart rate, slower and deeper breaths, diaphragmatic function, stable posture—tell your autonomic nervous system that you’re no longer stressed out. Rest and repair can begin. Your internal weather is beautiful!

Make sure to reach out to us at info@nimblefitness.com with questions about managing stress, comments or if you’d just like to get healthier!