May 27, 2016

Stressed? – Take a Chocolate Break

Being a Caregiver produces a range of emotions from feelings of accomplishment in caring for others or loved ones up to a state of overwhelming odds.  When the stress adds up to more than one can bear, you must take time for yourself even if it’s just a few minutes.

In a recent article on Caring.com, the author suggested 5 Quick Ways to Relieve Caregiver Stress.  These include reliving a happy moment, perhaps through a photo, slowing your breathing, taking a chocolate break, imagining your problems floating away, or taking a fantasy shopping spree!

Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, which help fight the biological effects of stress and provide a small hit of energizing caffeine.

According to the article, “snacks made of simple carbs, like white flour and sugar, tend to give you a quick spike of energy followed by a crash. Eating a small square of dark chocolate, on the other hand, offers longer-lasting benefits.”  Now there’s a reason to indulge.  Just a small amount can provide great benefits.

A 2009 Swiss study found that eating 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate (about a two-inch square) every day for two weeks lowered stress hormone levels in people who were feeling highly anxious. They ate half the dark chocolate at mid-morning and half at mid-afternoon.

Next time you are feeling a bit overwhelmed from your caregiving duties, grab some dark chocolate and a shopping magazine.  Then imagine you’re somewhere else for just a few minutes. It could provide just what you need to keep going.