3 Unexpected Stress Triggers That Can Damage Your Bones - Save Our Bones

Stress is not only unpleasant; it can damage your bones by keeping cortisol levels elevated. So naturally, it makes sense to avoid it.

Sometimes, that means “exposing” sources of stress that you may not even realize are there, and then doing something positive to overcome them.

So if you’re stressed often and find it hard to pinpoint the root cause, today’s article is definitely for you.

Let’s begin with…

1. Clutter and Messiness

In today’s busy world, it can be tough to keep up with all the things that seem to bombard our everyday lives: junk mail, paperwork, impulsive purchases, and various things we accumulate, sometimes without even realizing. But getting a handle on clutter can help strengthen and rejuvenate your bones, and here’s why.

Mess, disorganization, and clutter actually increase stress, and stress has an acidifying effect on the body. Clutter causes stress in various ways:

Distraction

How many times have you stopped and looked at the clutter surrounding your work or living areas and spent time fretting over it? Maybe you’re wondering how you’ll ever get out from under so much stuff. Unfortunately, clutter takes up a great deal of mental and physical space.

In addition, clutter is distracting to your senses, causing constant visual, physical, and sometimes olfactory stimulation without relief. You’re brain is constantly processing the clutter even if you think you’ve “tuned it out.” This rapidly becomes mentally exhausting, affecting your cognitive sharpness and destroying your focus.

Embarrassment And Shame

Clutter can make you feel ashamed of your home or work space, so you don’t feel comfortable inviting friends or family, and you avoid having others see your work area. You may think that the clutter exposes your disorganization, so you feel a sense of shame. This in turn contributes to a feeling of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Inability To Relax

In order to really relax, your brain needs to be at rest. Clutter keeps it stimulated, and serves as a stressful reminder that your work never seems to get done.

Inhibits Productivity

Too much clutter means little open space, and you need space to be creative and productive. When your living space is a mess, it's difficult to keep your thoughts on track.

Wastes Time

How many times have you set something down – a list, a cup of coffee, keys, or important paperwork – only to have it “disappear” in the mess? This leads to a time-wasting hunt to recover the item you need. And that’s time you could have spent on something healthful and productive.

It’s Unhealthy

Remarkably, research suggests that clutter can have a negative impact on appetite and food choices. A small study involving 100 college students revealed a connection between the environment, emotions, and eating that hadn’t been noted before.

Emotional eating is not a new concept, of course; but the emotional response to clutter and its effect on appetite is relatively new territory. Researchers divided the students into two groups. One group was placed in a neat and tidy kitchen; the other group was put in a chaotic, cluttered kitchen. Both groups had access to cookies, crackers, and carrots.

The students in the cluttered kitchen ate twice as many total calories as the tidy-kitchen group, particularly if they reported being in a chaotic state of mind. The cluttered-kitchen group ate more of the cookies than the other foods, suggesting that chaos and clutter significantly influence both quantity and quality of food choice.1

The study concludes that:

“…less cluttered, less distracting, and less chaotic environments may lead people to snack less than they would in a more cluttered and chaotic workplace. Second, even if one must be in a chaotic environment, taking time to recall a more controlled time in one’s life can help one resist the pressure to overeat.”1

This is certainly something to consider as you embark on a nutritious, pH-balanced diet for your bones.

What To Do About It

De-cluttering is not necessarily a light task, especially because it bombards your senses. Clutter can seem very overwhelming, but here are some ideas to help you get started.

First, choose an area to clean out, as small or large as you like. It may be a corner in your living room, an area in your closet, a table top, or a section of your kitchen counter. Just choose one, and set a time and date to work on it. You may have to set several times and dates, because it may not be the sort of thing you can do in one session. And that’s okay.

Another idea is to choose several items a day to put away or get rid of. It can be one item a day or ten; whatever is workable for you. The clutter will seem to clean itself over time.

Having the right equipment also helps. Get bins, drawers, boxes, or whatever organizational system fits your space and your needs. And then use them!

Last but not least, don’t be afraid to let go of items. Your local thrift store, second-hand store, or consignment shop are excellent places to unload your extra stuff…just don’t let sentiment get the better of you. If it’s in the way and you’re not using it, it needs to go. Plus, you’ll be helping others, which, as you’re about to see, also boosts your bone health and relieves stress.

2. Rudeness

It makes sense that being the recipient of rude behavior would be stressed. But did you know that being rude yourself can exacerbate stress? And on the flip side, being polite helps relieve stress.

According to a study published in Clinical Psychological Science, doing small acts of kindness, such as holding a door open for someone, produces positive emotions and contributes to a feeling of well-being. The study authors refer to these kind acts as “prosocial behaviors.”

Study participants gave daily reports as to their mood and stress level for two weeks. They also reported how many prosocial behaviors they engaged in. Interestingly, when stressed-out participants performed more prosocial activities, their mental health and mood improved.

These findings support previous research that points to the healthful benefits of being kind to others.

The study concludes that:

“…engaging in prosocial behavior might be an effective strategy for reducing the impact of stress on emotional functioning.”2

What To Do About It

Make an effort to be polite and kind to people. Interestingly, research shows that honest smiles are contagious, improving your mood and the mood and productivity of people around you.

Given the connection between bone health and mood, helping others is clearly good for your bones. All the more reason to show a little kindness!

3. Procrastination

There are all types of reasons for procrastinating, and an occasional postponement is quite legitimate. For example, sometimes you have to put off a task or activity because of a schedule conflict, emergency, or simply as a matter of priority. For some people, though, procrastination is a personality trait and therefore a way of life, and that’s a big stressor. Here are the reasons why.

  • Goals simply can’t be met if you’re procrastinating. And unmet goals can be depressing and stressful, negatively affecting your sense of self-worth. Speaking of which…
  • Self-esteem suffers when you procrastinate. You may procrastinate to begin with because of low self-esteem; then you feel even more worthless when you don’t accomplish what you want in life. So it becomes a negative self-esteem vicious cycle.
  • Opportunities pass you by if you can’t get motivated to seize them. It can be very stressful to consider what you’ve missed or are missing because of your procrastination.
  • It’s unprofessional to procrastinate, and it can get you in trouble with your job. Your reputation in the workplace is determined by your productivity, achievements, and performance, and procrastination robs you of all these.
  • Bad decisions are made when under pressure, and that’s what typically happens when you procrastinate. You can’t seem to make a decision, so then time runs out and you have to rush to make some kind of choice. Often, that choice is not the best one.
  • Procrastination affects your health, and not only because it increases stress, worry, and anxiety. If you put off your intentions to eat well and exercise, for example, then you’re skipping habits that can make a world of difference in your whole body’s state of health.
  • In addition, alarmingly enough, procrastination has been linked to cardiovascular disease and hypertension, in part because procrastinators are slow to take action to better their health.3 And of course, this includes your bone health.

    What To Do About It

    Time management, such as making lists, and planning your day, week or month can really help. But one of the most important things you can do is address the root of the problem: clarifying your vision of your future self. I’ll explain.

    Research suggests that procrastinators have a difficult time envisioning this version of themselves. Their future self-perception is vague and unclear, and therefore not motivational.

    When scientists studied the data from 583 participants in three different studies, they discovered a clear link between this self-vision of the future and procrastination:

    “…individual differences in perceived similarity to one’s future self predicts procrastination such that participants who experienced higher future self-continuity in ten years (studies 1 and 2) and in two months (study 3) reported fewer procrastination behaviors.”4

    Therefore, clarity of future vision is important for overcoming procrastination. And you can work on this visualization in the comfort of your own home, according to research published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Scientists found that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was as effective as seeing a therapist, and the study concludes that:

    “Internet-based CBT could be useful for managing self-reported difficulties due to procrastination, both with and without the guidance of a therapist.”5

    With internet resources so readily available, there’s no excuse to not get started!

    Are You Putting Off Bone-Healthy Habits?

    I sometimes hear from well-intentioned Savers who have the Osteoporosis Reversal Program but they didn’t get started on it yet. Sometimes, this is due to a sense of overwhelm, but I’d like to assure you that even though the decision to reverse osteoporosis with nutrition and lifestyle changes (and without drugs) is a big personal step, it’s not complicated at all.

    The Osteoporosis Reversal Program is designed to be user-friendly, and the scientifically-backed, factually sound information is explained in a clear and concise way.

    Stop Worrying About Your Bone Loss

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    If you haven’t yet, you can start the Program with whatever first steps are comfortable for you. Maybe it’s preparing one alkalizing meal a week at first, just to get a feel for cooking with alkalizing foods. Or perhaps you prefer to get started with a daily or weekly walk.

    Remember, big changes can happen through small steps!

    Till next time,

    References:

    1 Vartanian, Lenny R., Kernan, Kristin M., and Wansink, Brian. “Clutter, Chaos, and Overconsumption: The Role of Mind-Set in Stressful and Chaotic Food Environments.” Environment and Behavior. (2016): 1-9. PDF. https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/chaos_and_cooking.pdf

    2 Raposa, Elizabeth B., Laws, Holly B., and Ansell, Emily B. “Prosocial Behavior Mitigates the Negative Effects of Stress in Everyday Life.” Clinical Psychological Science. (2015). Web. August 9, 2016. https://cpx.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/12/10/2167702615611073.abstract

    3 Sirois, Fuschia M. “Is procrastination a vulnerability factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease? Testing an extension of the procrastination-health model.” Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 38. 3. (2015): 578-589. Web. August 9, 2016. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10865-015-9629-2

    4 Blouin-Hudon, Eve-Marie C. and Pychyl, Timothy A. “Experiencing the temporally extended self: Initial support for the role of affective states, vivid mental imagery, and future self-continuity in the prediction of academic procrastination.” Personality and Individual Differences. 86. (2015): 50-56. Web. August 9, 2016. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886915003840

    5 Rozental, Alexander, et al. “Internet-based cognitive-behavior therapy for procrastination: A randomized controlled trial.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 83. 4. (2015): 808-824. Web. August 9, 2016. https://psycnet.apa.org/journals/ccp/83/4/808/

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Comments on this article are closed.

  1. Caroline

    This is an excellent article. Thank you, Vivian! I would add to your list of three things, a fourth: taking on more than you can handle, not saying no. This can be a huge stress, one that is constant and exhausting because there is always more to do.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      I’m glad you like the article! Yes, that can also add to our daily stress, Caroline. Good point, and thanks for sharing it!

  2. Marlene Villar

    Hello Vivian,
    Excellent ! Thank you.

    Have a wonderful afternoon.

    Marlene

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      My pleasure, Marlene!

  3. Carol H

    Vivian,
    You have been my Godsend! This post on decluttering got me started the same day I read it, to tackle a momumental 4-yr problem of not knowing how-to handle paperwork anymore. In the past year with your other enlightening email tips, you have help me repair 12 fractured spinal vertebrae, saved me from early death by Prolia shots, straightened my kyphosis and rounded shoulders, given me back my sense of self, and left my doctors astounded at my improvement. One Dr had even prescribed hospice for me for 3 years ago, and other Drs had said I would not recover. The spinal fractures were caused by hospital doctors overdosing me on steroids to treat environmentally-caused COPD brought on 4 years ago by chemical off-gassing from a new, highly-toxic, foam mattress. The damage to my lungs resulted in multiple respiratory failures thereafter, requiring 18 hospital stays in 26 months.

    Your 3AM emails have uncanny timing to my prayers! I mowed my own lawn yesterday, thanks to your caring so much about the rest of us.

    I’m still trying to figure out how to organize all your emails where I can access them again easily, especially the theraputic exercises. I remember seeing your email for that, but don’t know where to find it now.

    Thank you so much for being part of my life, and my future!

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Carol, thank you for sharing your remarkable experience! How amazing that you have overcome so many obstacles. You are truly an inspiration!

      And just a note on the Weekend Challenges that you referred to – your best bet is to use the Search feature on the website, and simply type in “Weekend Challenge” and then browse the thumbnails. 🙂

      • Carol H

        Vivian,
        Thank you for the Search tip. My smartphone is my only Internet source; I’m still learning how to use it, and still have to manage a lot of overwhelm in my daily life from physical disabilities.

        This weekend, I searched the web for a natural GERD remedy, a new malady resulting from losing 3″ of vertebrae height in the digestive area. Not only could I not prepare my meals for 2 years with a broken spine, or even sit up to eat them, but could no longer digest, or even breathe, if I ate a balanced meal. Your solution for acid reflux came this week for Orange Peel Extract, and I will be trying it. Once again, your timing was God-sent! Thank you!

  4. Johanna

    Hi Vivian, I love receiving your emails with your wealth of knowledge to save our bones ? I see at the bottom of your post we can request your “free info on bone damage etc, so, I click on. Get it now. Put in my email address but nothing ever arrives in my in box. Can you please post anything I request DIRECT to my email as I don’t go thru your other system of claiming your bone information. Thank you so much. Warm regards Johanna. Western Aust. ?

  5. Kathleen

    Vivian – this is one of the Best Posts you’ve Ever Done!!! You are Bang On – on so many levels. Each topic speaks directly to me. Long ago I read that the first thing you should put on each morning is your Smile. I’ve practiced this for years; it not only improves my mood by it’s Contagious! As far as cluttering, we all have it. Maybe it’s magazines (my house) or things not put away (the laundry, dishes, shoes/slippers, etc.). It feels so good just to go through the current “corner for clutter” and pitch or file away for future reference – maybe just in a basket or a filing cabinet. Cleaning closets leads to New Discoveries! Whew! Who knew? Another job well done! Thanks again.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Thank you for your encouragement, Kathleen! And isn’t it amazing when you “discover” items you forgot you had when you clean out?

      • Kathleen

        Thanks, V – sometimes a Whole New Wardrobe!!! (well … almost maybe – giggle) /k

  6. Ita

    Thank you,just the advice I needed. Ita.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      You’re welcome, Ita!

  7. Ruth Roth

    I read the “Save Our Bones” e- book and am putting it into practice. I would find it more user-friendly if I had a ‘real book’ to underline in. The accessory aids that come with the e-book are hard to refer to because the page numbers cease at the end of the e-book. I am requesting a physical copy of this excellent book.

  8. Jan

    I am a procrastinator. Good intentions. I do know you feel better when you clear the clutter whatever it is. I wish the recipes and exercises were books and not on the
    computer. It would be much easier to use. Any suggestions on how you can print
    just the recipe you want and find it without going through all the program.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      It can be hard to overcome procrastination. I do hope that some of the suggestions in this post help you, Jan!
      Also, if you want to print just one recipe out of one of our ebooks, you can highlight the recipe text and copy and paste it into a Word file. Then you can print it from Word. 🙂

  9. Carol

    Thank you Vivian for this great information. It has really help to motivate me to clean out a much needed clothes closet and my kitchen cupboards. Just getting rid of a few items in the past made a big difference in how much better I felt. Now I’m determined to make it a priority and focus on the big picture and how much better I will feel when I have accomplished this goal.

    • Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

      Great approach, Carol. Focusing on the right goal is crucial to prevent discouragement. Good luck with your clean-out!

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