What drives your desire to reduce or manage stress? I’d venture to say that each of us wants less stress in our lives, but many people don’t even realize the amount of stress they’re carrying. Stress can build up gradually, and its effects can be insidious. You can take on more and more burdens and stressors over time, and before you know it, your “normal” life is one that has you sleeping less, worrying more, and eating less healthy foods to find some comfort. So, as we think about the ‘why’ behind the need or desire to reduce stress in our lives, we must first realize that the stress does indeed exist, and the less chronic stress you have, the healthier you’ll be over the long-term. Chronic, excess stress has some very real negative physical and metabolic effects, from weight retention to hormone imbalances.
An Example Your ‘Why’ for Better Eating