By Brenda Jank
Note: This post is Post #7 of our original series on rest and restoration. We are reposting some of our favorite articles because we believe they’re just as important today as ever. We hope you’re challenged to think of rest in a fresh, new way and will invite others to join in.
The battle against chronic Cortisol Overload is a fight for LIFE. It is not for the faint of heart. Although it may feel like an uphill battle, we are never alone. The reward? It is out of this world.
Two weeks ago we spoke of Easy Tweaks in our fight against Cortisol Overload. Last week we explored Try This. This week we are going to invite each other to consider some cortisol busting activities that involve heavier lifting. Pick one. It will be worth the investment!
Train Your Brain and Body
- We were made to move. Exercising 20-30 minutes most days is a tremendous reducer of cortisol. Tremendous! Walking is a great place to start. Don’t have 30 minutes? Walk for 10 minutes morning and evening. Invite God to join you. He’s been known to do that (Genesis 3:8).
- Learn the art of massage. Give them. Receive them. Back rubs. Hand. Feet. Ears. Scalp. Face. Touch is a powerful thing.
- Are you discouraged by how little you get done each day? That fact increases cortisol production. Chunk your time in order to tackle a project. Allow no digital distraction. No email. No phone calls. Some larger engineering companies recognized that productivity was waning among workers, yet hours-on-the-job were increasing. Mandatory “silent/no tech” times upped productivity and lowered work hours. Give it a try.
- Are you carrying a heavy load of past hurts? Do what you need to do to set healing into motion. Unhealed wounds fester. The cortisol damage is insidious.
- Evenings. Create and guard some quiet nights at home. Mark them on your calendar. Feel no guilt when something else surfaces. Simply reply, “I’m sorry, I have a prior commitment – to SANITY!”
- Cortisol wreaks havoc on our sleep. Sixty percent of Americans wrestle with insomnia occasionally or on a regular basis. Does the shoe fit? The lack of sleep is devastating. People who get less than 6 hours of sleep at night have up to a 50% increase of cortisol the next day. Working HARD at getting 7-8 restorative hours of sleep most nights will place you light-years ahead on the road to rest and restoration. Prioritize sleep – for you and everyone in your family.
- Check out our Sleep Survival Guide. It’s a wealth of compassion, insight, and think-out-side-the-box ideas.
Cortisol.
What is a manifestation of insanity in your life?
Are you ready to take some first steps to reduce the overload of cortisol flowing through the veins? You’re not alone and it is worth the fight.
Will it be duty or delight?
Did you like this post?
Visit the first blog post by clicking here.
Take note of the date. Feel free to visit the Blog Page to explore the entire series.
Would you like to explore the series at your own pace?
Consider purchasing Vantage Point: A New View of Rest, Rhythm, and the Work of God for yourself or others. 7,000 copies are transforming lives all around the world. Click here to learn of purchasing possibilities.
Brenda Jank and the Run Hard. Rest Well team. are thought leaders in the arena of Restorative Wellness. Find additional resources at www.RunHardRestWell.org. Contact us at: brenda@runhardrestwell.org