What a fun time during Calgary’s 5th Walk With A Doc! Well done to each of you who showed up to get your steps in! Whether you have walked with us before or it was your first time, you are always welcome and are now part of a growing group of empowered individuals that believe in healthier living and better quality of life.

During our August walk, we learned about what stress is and how to reduce and manage it in healthy ways. Stress Management is another key pillar of Lifestyle Medicine.

So, what is stress? Stress is a natural, non-specific response from our mind and body towards any perceived changes or demands for change. Stress of a real threat or an imagined threat feel the same to our body. Experiencing stress releases cortisol and adrenaline, our main stress hormones.

Not all stress is bad. There are two types of stress, acute and chronic.

Acute stress is normal and oftentimes even helpful. It gives us a push to finish a project, helps us meet deadlines, study for exams, respond to challenges, or make changes to our habits to live healthier.

Too much stress, or chronic stress, is usually harmful. Instead of propelling us towards positive action, it keeps us stuck. In fact, it might lead to negative, unhealthy behaviours, such as using drugs or alcohol or food to cope with the ongoing stress.

We all respond to stress differently. Reflect on what tends to set it off for you, so that you can make a plan to anticipate it and manage it in healthy ways.

Ask yourself how you can look at a situation differently. Is there something within your control that you can change or adjust? Are there variables out of your control you can shift your focus away from?

Here are some ways to better manage and reduce your overall stress:

  • Staying connected with friends, family, and community
  • Listening to music
  • Singing and/or dancing
  • Exercising
  • Doing yoga
  • Practicing mindfulness or meditation
  • Laughing
  • Keeping a gratitude journal
  • Reducing or avoiding caffeine and alcohol

Our monthly walks check off a few of these boxes: community, exercising, and laughing!
So, we hope to see out at our next walk on Sunday Sep 21st, 2025, where we will get our steps in and learn about the next pillar of Lifestyle Medicine! Sign up here.