In fostering a happy, healthy life – as we’re exploring in this 6-post series – decompression plays a critical role. By definition, decompression means to relieve or reduce pressure; to calm down and relax. Decompression is impactful not only in life in general, but particularly for those living with diabetes. Finding ways to decompress takes stress levels and stress hormones down, helping to prevent undesired stress-related glucose excursions.
Tami recently led a decompression activity with colleagues at work and asked them afterward anonymously to share What do you like to do to decompress after a stressful day?
Here are 10 ways to decompress that were shared:
- Take a walk/walk the dog (mentioned by several)
- Soak in the tub
- Invent a good mocktail
- Sit on the porch and just be one with nature
- Pray or meditate
- Read and sip on a “fancy” coffee, even if it’s decaf
- Have dinner with a friend
- Relax on the patio with a nice glass of wine
- Watch a funny show/movie
- Take a nap
Could one of these ideas help you to decompress in stressful times? Try one or two and see how your body responds. Identify other options that might help you. How about sharing these with your patients/clients with diabetes? Identifying and implementing decompression tactics a few times a week would be a great short term goal to explore. Evaluate how glucose responds during and after these times. Decompression techniques might even help with diabetes distress. Let us know what works for you!
In our next post Decompression 2.0 we’ll share even more ideas to decompress and foster a happy, healthy life.
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Deb is employed by Dexcom, but her words and opinions in this blog are her own.
Tami is employed by the University of Kentucky HealthCare Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, but her words and opinions in this blog are her own.