Head Check!
How’s your head feeling – Heavy? Tired behind the eyes? Tight? Finding it hard to concentrate?
Stress and headaches often come hand in hand – they are like Batman & Robin, but they are annoying & won’t save the world. Stress is a normal response our body has to help protect us, but when the amount of stress is higher than our bodies coping abilities it can lead to things like headaches, disturbed sleep & muscle tension!
We all live very fast paced lives, with packed schedules trying to fit in all of our work, activities, kid’s activities, house work & a social life! It’s no wonder that when our lives are busy we tend to put our self-care to the back of the list and push through – that’s what everyone else is doing right? It’s time to take a step back & think about the impact of our day to day stress on our bodies, especially those pesky headaches that don’t seem to be budging.
Common signs of headaches include –
- Dull ache in the head
- Tightness in the head and neck
- Tightness/pain behind the eyes
- Heaviness and fatigue in the eyes and head
It’s no surprise that when we have a headache we find it hard to concentrate and tick off the many things on our to-do list, but have you considered how your to-do list may be contributing to your headache?
If you are finding yourself feeling rundown and overwhelmed with regular headaches, try these 5 tips:
- Me time – whether it is reading a book each night, taking the dog for a walk, or listening to some music to switch off, having some time just for you will give you a chance to reset each day
- Sleep (it’s your best friend) – getting a good nights’ sleep each night will enable your body to rest & recover from the day. Sleep is the time that we can re-energise for the next day and be prepared for what is coming up next!
- Keep moving – exercise not only is good for our physical health, but also our mental health too. With a release of endorphins (happy hormones) each day our body feels fresh & our minds clear, so make sure you make some time to move your body!
- Hydration, hydration, hydration – and that’s with water, not coffee. Get yourself a large drink bottle, sit it on your desk and set yourself a goal to finish 2L per day. Start smaller if you aren’t used to drinking large volumes.
- Prioritise – We are not superheroes, and some things can wait until tomorrow (or next week) – prioritising what you need to achieve each day or week will help keep your mind on track with what really needs to be done. Remember it’s okay to say no to things or reschedule if you’re busy. Set yourself small tasks each day, tick them off and move onto the next list – you’ll be able to keep track of things & feel good about accomplishing small steps along the way too!
Headaches, and the stress that comes along with them, are something that Osteopath’s commonly see and can assist with. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email [email protected] or give the clinic a call on 5264 6098. I would love to help!
Bridget