Overcome Hurried Woman Syndrome – Slow Down
As the hectic holiday season approaches, sufferers of Hurried Woman Syndrome will try to cram more activities into already over-scheduled lives. Someone suffering from Hurried Woman Syndrome will look pale and drained yet rushed and frenzied. She will likely have a “spare tire” around her mid section because she releases a stress hormone, cortisol, all the time, causing her to store belly fat. She may suffer from all or any of the following symptoms: headaches, neck and back pain, digestive problems, illnesses and infections, sleep disorders, low sex drive, emotional eruptions, irregular menstrual cycles, food binges, cravings or no appetite, depression and anxiety. Men can certainly suffer from the syndrome but it is overwhelmingly experienced by women. Today's woman feels pressured to be everything to everyone. She is often working full time, tending to growing responsibilities while trying to better herself personally and professionally. She stretches herself beyond her limits and over scheduled. The result is often the exact opposite of what she is so busy trying to achieve - sick, tired, unhealthy and unhappy.
The Hurried Woman needs a formula to transform into the Balanced Woman.
Step 1: Reduce Responsibilities. Take a critical look at what takes up your time and energy. Assess and cut down on activities that no longer serve a positive purpose. Everything is up for grabs except for eating, breathing and sleeping. Prioritize the essential activities and you are left with the activities you truly need and want.
Step 2: Add in activities that will keep you balanced, healthy and happy. Now that the time wasters and energy drainers are gone from your life, healthy meal planning and preparation, exercise you enjoy, quality family and personal time can be worked into your new schedule. These activities will help you manage the more difficult areas of your life with confidence, positive energy and enthusiasm.
Step 3: Take essential supplements. When we are stressed, often the first things we eliminate are the things we need the most to fight stress. My “essentials” include fish oils, green drinks, a multivitamin and green tea.
The benefits of fish oils are well documented, researched and far reaching. The literature supports the claim that adding fish oils in good quality and quantity to your diet will bring relief in some way to almost everyone suffering from any condition.
Green drinks such as Greens+ or NuGreens will provide you with the equivalent of at least three servings of vegetables and fruits and contain stress-fighting, immune boosting ingredients like ginseng, grape seed extract, green tea extract and glutamine to name a few.
A broad-based quality multivitamin will act as an insurance policy to fill any gaps in your diet. Green tea has many beneficial properties one of which includes increasing alpha brain wave activity. The Hurried Woman and other stressed individuals rarely experience these “feel good” brain waves.
Step 4: Live “in the moment”. This means mindfulness or being present during everyday activities and events. Rather than always being an hour ahead in thought, worrying about the next scheduled event, pause and reflect on what you are doing right NOW. Enjoy and savour each moment.
Step 5: Yoga! Instructor Janice Renshaw told me, “yoga will make you stronger, but in a different way.” I thank her for introducing me to yoga. As an active, ambitious woman, yoga has kept me balanced and helped me slow down and enjoy life. Yoga can help you understand and apply Step 4.
John Lennon once told Rolling Stone magazine, “Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.” Take the time away from your busy life to implement the steps above and you can start enjoying the life that you have been rushing hurriedly through.
DE Coaching Team
Krista Schaus PICP CPT
Ontario CANADA
krista@definingedge.ca
Kate Kline PICP CFT
Arizona USA
kate@definingedge.ca
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