The Treadmill of Stress and Exhaustion

by Doc Harmony | June 07, 2021

How many of us feel drained and by the end of the week comes the feeling of exhaustion only to carry through the weekend? And then, Monday morning arrives rather quickly with a lack of renewed energy.

Put simply, our lives are busy and if we have a moment of down-time we feel the need to find something to do. Isn’t being busy something that society praises us on?

Relaxation? That’s a thing of the past!

Canva---Girl-using-her-smartphone-late-at-night Even at night when we try to sleep, our minds are still running on the mental treadmill of endless thoughts and to-do’s. Laying there in frustration, trying to calm down only adds to the stress in our minds. They “wheels” keep spinning and spinning. We wake up the next morning only to feel exhausted from the lack of adequate sleep. Time to hit snooze…again. Maybe you find yourself on your 3^rd cup of coffee before making it home from work. Caffeine is not the answer for renewed energy, but certainly something many of us turn to. As you can see, this is a dangerous, endless, negative cycle. Unless we consciously find a way out, we’ll continue to be consumed by exhaustion.

There are many ways we can learn to relax, but it’s about being willing to accept the need for change and actually implementing the necessary steps.

I’d like to share a few, actionable ways to take control of the stressors in life, with the aim to help you find a few ways to help you relax and start enjoying life again.

Take Technology Breaks

Naturally, because of the world we live in, it’s easy for our minds to be way too stimulated by the constant use of technology. Try allowing yourself to be off any technology two hours before bed. If you really feel you are unable do that, make sure it’s at least an hour before your desired bed time. When on devices, the mind is psychologically engaged. Remember, the reason smart phones were invented was to make us more productive, increasing dopamine levels and ultimately creating distractions. The blue light from the screen counteracts the body’s natural production of melatonin. Over the last decade, an increasing amount of melatonin supplements have been purchased. Many turn to this aid in falling asleep since the body isn’t able to produce melatonin as effectively as it would without the blue light screen interference. Lastly, when it comes to technology use before bed, the alerting aspects of the info on our phones cause a delay in REM sleep, an important and critical part of our sleeping cycle. Our minds stay engaged instead of naturally trying to turn off for the night. So let’s turn the phones off, so our minds can turn off, too!

Another idea to decrease the use of technology would be to take a Sunday- free vacation from the devices. Put all devices in a cabinet, out of sight. Maybe we feel 24 hours is too long to go without tech engagement, but I challenge you to give it a try. While in the beginning, you’ll surely find yourself reaching for the phone, it’s something you can certainly get used to. Eventually, you’ll feel more motivated and refreshed come Monday morning when you are ready to start the week.

Make Time to Play

Canva---Couple-Playing-Solitaire How many of us wish we were still little kiddos, too young to have a worry in the world, our minds free and we could just be? I know I wish I could go back to those days sometimes. That’s why it’s important to make time to participate in things that make you happy. How about a good ole’ dodge ball game with friends or a bike ride on a local trail, maybe a trip to a museum. While you may feel unproductive when engaging in fun activities, it’s important for your overall wellbeing, so don’t think about your to-do’s. Just be.

Exercise

Surprisingly, while you do need energy to move your body, it’s a great way to control stress, which will allow you to remain in a relaxed state throughout the day. It’s best to pick something you enjoy doing and not make exercise a chore. This can be a bike ride, swim in the lake or taking a dance class. Sure, if you love going to the gym, keep it up, but remember the goal here is fun and no stress!

Refrain from Eating Late at Night

Try not to eat anything that’s going to keep you awake too close to bedtime. Sure, maybe we enjoy evening snacks, but try to make them earlier rather than later. Further, a quick note on afternoon caffeine: sometimes I know there’s a need for an afternoon pick me up caffeine kick, but make sure it’s an early afternoon kick, not dragged into the evening. By making it too late, it will only prevent the mind from being able to calm down from the day.

If nothing else works …

We Do Have Some Great Products to Try:

The Sleepy Time H.E.A.L.'s Kit includes:

Breath a few breathes of H.E.A.L.’s Sleepy Night Essential Oil Blend. Breathe in deeply. Gently massage OSI Magnesium Body Lotion into your skin. With your partner, enjoy your Lavender scented Ear Candles by Harmony After candling, place your Lavender Sleep Patches on both feet. Breath a few more breaths of H.E.A.L.’s Sleepy Night Essential Oil Blend. Slip into bed and enjoy your good nights rest.

H.E.A.L.’s Stress Reliever Kit includes:

This kit was designed for relaxation! Enjoy a bath or foot soak with OSI Magnesium Bath Flakes and drop a few drops of H.E.A.L’s Relaxation Essential Oil Blend into your water. For any sore or achy muscles spray the Magnesium Oil directly onto the areas and massage the area gently while soaking. After you dry off liberally apply, while gently massaging OSI Magnesium Body Lotion into your skin. Enjoy the rest of your evening as you relax during feeling oh so good!

Magnesium Chloride Salt Flakes

Magnesium is an essential microelement and natural anti-stress inducer. Therefore, we all need magnesium for our bones, teeth, joints etc. These flakes are a great way to provide a little boost by adding them to a warm, soothing bath. Magnesium Chloride Salt Flakes are naturally evaporated from salt water located 10,500 feet above sea level in the Tibetan Plateau.

Lavender Bodytox Foot Patches

These patches, also known as foot pads or herbal pads, are placed for up to ten hours on the bottom of your feet in order to promote relaxation. Bodytox patches are made of all natural ingredients and very easy to use!

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is an oil proven to help with stress and relaxation of the mind and body. Lavender has been used for many centuries as an herbal remedy. It’s believed to be beneficial for a multitude of ailments. Scientific evidence suggests that aromatherapy with lavender may improve sleep quality, promote relaxation and lift mood.

By following these suggestions and using a few of the products, you will be on your way to a better, more relaxed and yes, healthier YOU! Not only will they help you relax, but will aid de-stressing, ultimately allowing you to fall asleep more easily with less worries on the mind. If we hangout in our minds too long, it can become a dangerous place which is why we need to hop off the treadmill of stress and exhaustion. Time to stop the cycle once and for all! The earlier in life you learn best practices on how to cope and handle stress, the better off you’ll be in the future when any potential stressors cross your path. You can do this! Trust me, the changes are worth it. I believe in YOU!