Is Stress Making You Age Faster? (Small Habits, Big Difference #9)

Small Habits…Big Difference! Habit #9

When was the last time you felt truly relaxed?

Not just sitting still. Really relaxed. Shoulders down, jaw loose, nothing on your mind.

If you have to think hard about that one, you're not alone! 😂

I've been reading The Eternal Norse by Astrid and Erik Halvorsen, and I'm sharing some of the everyday habits that might be worth changing as we get older.

Last time, we talked about putting your phone down 30 minutes before bed.

Well…here's Habit #9.

Treating stress as normal may be one of the biggest habits that ages us!

Most people accept stress as normal. Bills, health worries, family, the news. We carry it around all day and call it life.

But according to the book, long-term stress is a big cause of faster aging.

It shortens the protective caps on your DNA. Remember Habit #5? Those are the same little caps that sitting too long wears down.

Stress also raises cortisol, your stress hormone. We talked about cortisol in Habit #6.

When cortisol stays up, it causes:

• Inflammation
• Bad sleep
• A weak immune system

I know a little about stress. As a farmer, I lost crops to the weather, to timing, and to life. Worry came with the job, and most of us just carried it.

Here's the habit.

Find one thing every day that releases stress from your body.

Now, here's the catch. Not TV. Not scrolling. Those may feel like a break, but they aren't a real release.

A real release is something your body can feel. A few ideas:

• A walk in nature. Fresh air, open sky, and nobody asking you for anything.
• Cold water. A cold splash on your face, like the one from Habit #4.
• Deep breathing. Five slow breaths into your belly, from Habit #7.
• Movement. Stretch, garden, play with the grandkids, or just get up and walk around the house.

You don't need all four. Just one, every day.

A word of caution. If stress feels like more than you can carry, or you're dealing with anxiety or depression, please talk with your doctor or someone you trust. And if you have a heart condition, go easy with the cold water.

For over 20 years, my brother and I ran a commercial ag-spraying business.

Every spray rig has a pressure relief valve. When the pressure builds up too high, that little valve opens and lets some of it out.

Without it, the pressure keeps building with nowhere to go. Sooner or later a hose bursts or a fitting blows, usually at the worst possible time.

Our bodies need a relief valve too. That one daily release is it.

Small habits…big difference!

This habit is a big part of why I've become interested in health and wellness and why I'm involved with Zilara.

Zilara has two digital products that can help with relief from stress:

• THE DAILY PAUSE
• FEEL GOOD. BE GOOD. DO GOOD.

I'm not looking for overnight transformations. I'm interested in practical ways to take care of ourselves as we get older…and sharing what I discover.

If you'd like to learn more, take a look here:

https://williamfeaver.com/zilara2

No pressure. Just take a look and decide for yourself. (I earn a commission if you join Zilara through me; your price doesn't change.)

Today, pick one real release.

Take a walk. Splash some cold water. Breathe deep. Move.

Then do it again tomorrow.

One little change.

One little habit.

And who knows? Maybe you'll feel a little lighter by the end of the week!

Now, I have a question for you…

👉 What's ONE thing you do that really lets the stress go?

Leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, keep learning, keep taking care of yourself, and…

Just keep moving forward!

Bill Feaver

Small Habits…Big Difference! A series about simple changes that may help us live healthier, more active lives as we age.