Seeking Advice...

[MrKrabs]

This is a question to those of you whom work in high-stress environments and stress-related illnessess - and this question is more along the lines of what do you do in your daily or weekly routine to stay healthy.

I have been able to keep my blood pressure down despite sleep debt. But I have been running into regular infections that require a trip to the ER and regular visits to a ENT Specialist.

Besides sleep more - any fun advice?

[FLOOB]

You may have just described the best reason to look for another job.

[edog1977]

Exercise? I have been out of shape for years. I recently started focusing on increasing my flexibility and core strength. No weights or anything like that. Just stretching, push ups, sit ups, and squats. It's amazing how much better I feel. I've lost a few pounds over the last month too. Look better, feel better, and I don't spend all that much time each day stretching and excising. I bet I average 30 minutes or less per day.

The other half of the equation is good posture. I had terrible posture. I've also been working on that. If your spine is all out of whack it can cause all kinds of problems.

In Just a month I've gone from not really wanting to get out of bed in the morning to waking up before the alarm goes off. I have a lot more energy. Just ask the wife. 

[MrKrabs]

Exercise? I have been out of shape for years. I recently started focusing on increasing my flexibility and core strength. No weights or anything like that. Just stretching, push ups, sit ups, and squats. It's amazing how much better I feel. I've lost a few pounds over the last month too. Look better, feel better, and I don't spend all that much time each day stretching and excising. I bet I average 30 minutes or less per day.

I regularly take the kids to the local parks by foot and of course be active as I can while doing so along with whatever free outdoor events in the area. The fresh air does some good.

Posture-wise will be a problem until I finally get my legs fixed. Ankle/talus fusion and knee replacements are inevitable.

In Just a month I've gone from not really wanting to get out of bed in the morning to waking up before the alarm goes off. I have a lot more energy. Just ask the wife. 

 

[Bizman]

Exercise? --- No weights or anything like that. Just stretching, push ups, sit ups, and squats. It's amazing how much better I feel. ---and I don't spend all that much time each day stretching and excising. I bet I average 30 minutes or less per day.

That's what I've been doing for decades most every morning. Every second day a little more, every second day a little less. And as my Creator, on the seventh day I rest. No weight problems so far and my looks please the eyes of my wife... Have I mentioned she's myopic like a mole?

[edog1977]

MrKrabs, I did the same. I'd walk to the park with the kids, and I even helped coach my sons baseball team the last two years. I was riding my bicycle 10-20 miles a couple of times a week. Despite that I was way out of shape. The focus on increasing flexibility has had the biggest influence on how I feel. I'm lucky that I don't have any chronic problems. I do have a defective L4 which may be part of the reason my posture was so bad. So far that hasn't bothered me despite the increased activity. I've got my fingers crossed because my dad had the same problem and eventually opted for spinal fusion.

How old is your bed? Is it too soft, or too hard? I recently got a new mattress and that has helped too. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

I wish you the best of luck. I've spent nearly 20 years feeling like crap half the time. It's amazing what a months worth of effort has done for me mentally and physically.

[Maverick]

As already mentioned, exercise is probably one of the best therapies you can do. Given your physical limitations a talk with a physical therapist might be in order. You need to find something that will enable you to get your heart rate up and stay up for a while to really benefit from it.

Another item would be meditation. I know it sounds trite but it does work. You should find a good coach and give it a try, a serious try.

Lastly and maybe firstly, look at the aspects of your life that are generating the most stress. Which of them can you change in the short term, and which can be changed in the long term. Start modifying those things that give you the stress and keep working on them. Change your routines. Small changes can have a big impact. Have a date night away from kids. Maybe a "boys night out", whichever works. Look for things to change in the daily routine and try them. Doesn't have to be costly.

Avoid medication if you can, especially the self prescribed, self administered kind. That includes alcohol as they do not remove stress and often bring more later if not sooner.

Counseling is another thing to look at, especially if the stress if from the home environment. I am not saying it is, just tossing out another option. Talking about the issues can be a huge stress reliever and might just start to provide answers to alleviate it no matter the source.

[Serenity]

Stress in my world ebbs and flows, but when it's on, it's ON.

Exercise is of course the first thing that comes to my mind as well. However, as that has been beaten to death, I have two other strong recommendations. The first is dietary. My whole life I was never a breakfast eater. In fact, sometimes I would only eat a small snack at lunch and then dinner. But since I got to intermediate, I've picked up eating regular meals, including breakfast, and I've noticed a huge improvement to my general disposition. And while at a cost to sleep, my next suggestion is to make a little "me time" at the beginning of the day to help you get ready for everything to come. I get up about an hour earlier than I have to, to eat afformentioned breakfast, sit on the couch, and just watch some TV in peace. Starting my day at my own pace, taking my time and just relaxing, helps me feel like I'm starting the day on "my own terms", and it may help you wind down as well.

[Bizman]

Good points, Serenity. Having a balanced meal several times a day both keeps your blood sugar leveled and adds some rhythm and continuity into your day.

Another thing against stress is a hobby which demands all of your concentration while you're at it. I'm on my second winter building electric guitars at the community college and I must say it's addictive! Starting from planning, choosing the wood, sawing the rough lines, planing, thicknessing, routing the cavities, carving the neck and body to your liking, fretting, sanding through grits until the wood is smooth as silk, oiling/waxing/lacquering, sanding again in between the layers, oiling/waxing/lacquering again, fitting the hardware and strings for the feel, detaching the hardware, modifying if needed, sanding through the finest grits, polishing, fitting the hardware again, adding the electrickery and finally plugging into an amp for the first time. Plus chatting with the other people there, admiring their projects and getting yours admired.

Of course it can be anything as long as you have to pay attention to what you're doing so that you simply can't think about the things that give you stress.

[pipz]

Eat fresh Canadian bacon only. 

[zack1234]

Dahlia larma should get a job and stop stealing from poor people.

[Chris79]

3 beers+1 Cigar+good music= happy place.  BTW krabby, I'm in the same boat, a highly stressful job which puts me on the road for 17 days a month, 2 young children, and a medical condition.

[Arlo]

My doctor(s) would not approve, however.

[Curval]

Sell out, go golfing.

That's what I am doing. 

[Chalenge]

It's not the cheapest thing, but an endless pool may be in your future. It will also aid in your recovery from surgery in the near future, because they can/do include an underwater treadmill. So, you can run in the water without putting your full weight on your legs. Then there's swimming too. But, if you don't like swimming then it's a huge waste of cash.