There are many benefits to having a clear, calm, and focused mind. We often put other priorities first before our stress levels. It isb now told that a majority of health illnesses are simply because of too much stress in our lives! Listed below are a few reasons you may not have thought that a calm mind could positively effect your life. Also listed are 5 simple exercises you can do to de- stress your life!

Better relationships with those around you- when you are thinking clearly, you have more patience and understanding for the messages your friends and family are trying to converse with you. When your mind is calm, you handle conversations with others better and therefor save time trying to "fix" possible misunderstandings

Increased productivity- a calm mind allows you to organize your thoughts better and plan a better "game plan" for your day.

Better quality conversations- a clear mind will allow you be able to come up with ideas and things that you want to talk about easier in conversations

Better sleep- increased stress levels increase cortisol levels in the body as well. Increased cortisol in the body make it harder to fall asleep because it blocks melatonin production.

Better health - a stressed mind and body lead to poor food choices. Higher stress levels increase cortisol levels causing a direct link to increased desire for sugary foods. Craving sweet foods is linked with weight gain. Consumption of carbs, sugar and fruit increase your insulin levels which increases hunger shortly after and decreases satiety. You need to have a clear mind to consume foods that do not effect insulin and blood sugar levels.

6 easy ways to de-stress throughout your every day:

Put your feet up- lean against a wall and put your feet up with your bottom as close to the wall as possible. This increases the circulation to your brain. Do this for 10-20 minutes a day. It immediately calms your para- sympathetic nervous system. Stress, activity and busy lives cause blood to stay in the quads and biceps instead of being evenly distributed throughout the body. Better blood flow equals more energy and better brain activity

Spray lavender essential oil- essential oils have been used for thousands of years to heal the mind and body. They are quickly absorbed into the blood stream. Most knowledgable essential oil representatives will say that lavender oil is one of the most beneficial oils. Buy a bottle from your local health store ( Sevananda, if you live in East Atlanta) and drop about 10-15 droplets in a mini spray bottle with water. Spray on your pillows, couches and wrists and neck. The scent will immediately relieve tension, anxiety and stress.

Drink/eat something fermented- often times stress causes depleted healthy bacteria in the gut. Whenever I eat something bad or feel sluggish- I buy a GT kombucha or plain kefir from Publix or Whole Foods. My body instantly feels more energized while my mind feels more productive and organized. (Keep in mind that it is vital to take a multi-strand probiotic 2-3 times a year for a month).

Go for a mid-day walk- sitting in a car or office is now viewed to be as unhealthy and bad for the body as smoking! Sitting for a long period of time disrupts normal hormone flow which causes INCREASED hunger, decreased satiety and decreased metabolism. Every hour go for a 5 minute walk. You can talk on the phone and still get other things done but you need to move at least once every hour and preferably once every 20 minutes. The hormones that control weight gain and loss are disrupted if movement and circulation is not optimized.

Get negative ions- often times we are surrounded by "dead air." This means that the air is full of positive ions and not negative ions. Often dead air is found in homes, offices and cars. Go outside for at least 20 minutes a day either for a walk in the park or a hike in the woods. Trees and waterfalls are excellent sources of negative ions. Increase your antioxidants while also taking your shoes off. The soles of your feet will absorb the antioxidants and negative ions from the earth( try dirt, sand, grass or gravel) and you will experience less anxiety, more energy, and increased circulation to the brain. Too few negative ions in the body is associated with weight gain, lethargy, fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety.

Float- the feeling of floating immediately calms the para sympathetic nervous system. This relaxation can come from laying in a hammock, surfing or floating on a raft in a pool.

Try incorporating these things into your daily routine. They take about 45 minutes but in turn will make you more energized, happier and more productive! I try to spread the, throughout the day to have consistent energy levels. In the morning I go for a walk with the dogs, I get a kombucha after lunch for a mid- day pick me up, after dinner I soak up some negative ions at a local hike for 15 minutes, and at night I spray lavender oil and put my feet up while reading or listening to a podcast.

Enjoy- you deserve it!!!