Stress and Your Mobility

Stress.  We all face it.  We all handle it in different ways.  Some can take it in stride, and some need ways to “cope.”  Some people internalize it and lock it up.  Others carry their stress in their body or even take it out on the people around them.  Well, proper stress management can influence your life in many different ways.  It can influence your mobility, as well.

Things have been particularly stressful for me lately.  Stress is hard for me, because some bad habits are associated with it; sometimes my old caffeine addiction rears its ugly head.  Sometimes I have the desire to turn to comfort foods.  For me, the biggest problem with stress, however, is my sleep cycle.  Stress can really mess with a person’s ability to get good restful sleep, and that can in turn impact your body’s well-being.  You may not think that mental or emotional stress can influence your knees.  However, if you aren’t getting sufficient rest, your body will take the brunt of it.

Another problem with stress is the possibility of muscle tension.  When things get very stressful, I have horrible tension in my back.  This in turn influences the way my entire body feels and moves.  I know I don’t always handle stress the best, and I think understanding how stress works with (and against) my body is a valuable tool to maintaining a good grip on both my health and my sanity.

Stressful times also generally mean you’re up and going more, for longer periods.  While this wouldn’t necessarily be back if you could guarantee good rest and easy movement, this can compound problems like soreness, stiffness, and exhaustion.

So, next time things get a bit hectic and you’re at your wit’s end, remember how stress and influence your “get up and go.”  Find ways to check your stress.  Make some “you” time to unwind, relax, and blow off some steam.  It may not seem immediately clear, but your joints need you to get some mental downtime, too.

Holiday Weekend Tips

This weekend is the 4th of July, so people all over the United States will be taking part in festivities.  With all the activities going on, it can be hard to take proper care of your joints.  When you’re constantly on the go, it’s easy to forget to take care of your sore of stiff joints until they’re already painful and inflamed.  When you’re buckling down for a busy weekend, taking good care of your joints should be something you put a lot of thought into.

Stretching

You can’t ever underestimate the importance of stretching!  There are all types of stretches you can do to keep yourself limber and happy.  This should be a big part to your day anyways.  It should be the first thing you do when you roll out of bed and should be done a couple times a day.  It doesn’t need to be anything big of conspicuous, either.  Stretching at your desk or wherever you may work is easy.  This stretching helps prepare your body for hard work, and keeping your body stretched and flexible will help your joints later on.  It’s especially important when you know you may spend more time up and moving around, like you might for a holiday weekend.

Resting

You have a busy schedule full of celebrations!  Time for family and friends is important.  Time for allowing your body to recovery is important, too.  Somewhere in your busy schedule, plan some relaxation time.  Don’t be afraid to find a shady spot at a cook-out to sit and enjoy yourself.  Be sure to get plenty of sleep and don’t overdo the physical activity.  While holiday weekends open doors for exercise and activity, you also run the risk of overdoing it.  For your sake, don’t.  You can still have a ton of fun without pushing your body past its limits.

Have Fun

Obviously, this is a vital factor to your 4th of July plans!  Whether or not you have big plans, you probably have something special going on.  Enjoy yourself.  While we like to advise you to keep it healthy and watch what you eat, we know that occasions like this are going to open doors for “mess-ups.”  If you are feeling guilty about eating a bit too much of something, or eating something you shouldn’t have, just be sure to get right back on track.  That doesn’t mean it’s okay to deviate, but it does mean that you don’t necessarily have to feel bad about it or think you’ve ruined your health goals.  Overall, just keep in mind that you can still enjoy yourself while treating your body the way it needs to be treated!

Take this advice and go have a great 4th of July.  Stay safe, happy, and healthy!