• Request An Appointment
  • Get Directions
  • Patient Portal
  • Online Bill Pay
Dr. Sharon Jedel, GI Clinical Psychologist,
has joined our team! Accepting appointments NOW!
HealthFlex

Contact Us: (224) 407-4400 or Email Us

×
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Procedures
  • Staff
  • Patient Resources
    • GI Health Blog
    • Patient Portal
    • Patient Portal Instructions
    • Telehealth Visits
    • Remote Medical Scribe FAQ
    • Patient Forms
    • Accepted Insurance Plans
    • Medicare Policy & Forms
    • Fee Schedule
    • Appointment cancellation policy
    • Procedure cancellation policy
    • Patient Education Links
    • Patient Testimonials
    • Patient Feedback Form
  • FAQ
  • Contact
    • Book an Appointment

With Spring Around the Corner, You’re Days Away From Stepping Out of Stress

With Spring Around the Corner, You’re Days Away From Stepping Out of Stress
March 15, 2022Anxiety, Depression & Mental HealthBrowse by Staff MemberJAMES “JED” FOSTER, JR., MA, LMFTAnxietyExercise & FitnessMental Health

With Spring Around the Corner, You’re Days Away From Stepping Out of Stress

by James E. “Jed” Foster, Jr., MA, LMFT

 

I’ve always loved hiking. Whether ascending a 14,000-foot peak in Colorado, or finding a local trail with some hills. Walking – just walking – never did it for me. Maybe I always felt like I had something more important to do, or maybe it was the slower pace. Why walk when you can ride, right? That’s all changed. All it took was a pandemic.

 

My love of walking started about 2 years ago, shortly after we all started wearing masks, wiping down groceries, and spending nearly all of our time trying to navigate working from home, flexing to remote schooling for our children, and learning more about PPE and sanitizer than we’d ever cared to know. About 2 weeks into lockdown, I knew I needed something safe, quiet, and healthy to fill the gaping hole left by gyms shutting down. Enter walking. My wife and I dusted off our sneakers and walked. We found the quiet streets had a lot to offer us. We decided on only one rule: “no serious topics while we’re walking.” We needed to keep it light when everything else was so heavy.

By June, I’m pretty sure my Siri felt my phone had been hijacked, due to the stats mounting in the health app and a cardio app I follow. “You’re walking more than 97% of all users across all ages” read Cardiogram’s metrics. I saw my resting and walking heartrates drop and my VO2max rise. I watched all 3 rings on my Apple Watch close 4-6 days a week. I lost some weight, was getting sun on my face, and began to appreciate the beauty around me. But the most important thing that walking gave me was a mindful break that kept me sane during the insanity. Whether I was concentrating on the pace of my steps in the hopes of averaging 4mph, listening to my favorite music, or enjoying connecting with my wife; our various routes through our village to Starbucks, Pete’s, or just strolling around a golf course became my solace. After walking, I felt refreshed, calm, focused, and ready to take on whatever was headed my way. I was feeling less stress. I was feeling less anxious. It was…mindfulness at work.

 

Two years later, I look back and see some of the walks in 6 degree weather, or days when it was raining sideways and think to myself, “I used to think people who did this were crazy.” Now of course I know it keeps them sane. I can’t imagine my life without mindful walking anymore. In fact, I went out and got myself another partner in crime. Meet Windy. She likes walking too.
The following is a wonderful article from Prevention that is full of some great ideas about how to get started with stepping off stress and mindfully claiming some health and serenity along the way.

https://apple.news/AsEUZbAMxTFOk54VaYc_y_A

 

 

Jed is a licensed psychotherapist that continues to be both amazed by and drawn to the mind-body connection. Check in on his blogs for news, information, tips, and commentary on topics related to – but not limited to – the mind-gut connection, behavioral therapy, gut-directed hypnotherapy, weight management, positive psychology, stress reduction, anxiety, depression, overall well-being, and anything else he feels patients will benefit from learning. Jed is actively accepting new patients. Call 224.407.4400 today and begin your journey to better health and enhanced overall well-being.

Recent Posts

  • CYBERTREAT YOUR IBS: Video Chat Your Way to Better Health
  • A NEW WAY TO FIND CONSTIPATION RELIEF!
  • MEET VIBRANT – THE FUTURE OF CONSTIPATION TREATMENT
  • HYPNOTHERAPY FOR IBS!
  • SUPER GI NERD ALERT!

Browse by Author

  • ALEXA
  • ALLISON LINDSTROM, RN
  • Anxiety, Depression & Mental Health
  • Browse by Staff Member
  • CLAIRE ALLEN, MS, RDN, LDN
  • Colon
  • COVID-19
  • DANIELLE, RD
  • DEVON, RN
  • Diet, Exercise & Healthy Living
  • EMMA
  • Fatty Liver Disease
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • JAMES “JED” FOSTER, JR., MA, LMFT
  • JEFFREY NATHANSON, M.D. Gastroenterologist
  • JEN, RN
  • JILL, RN
  • JOLIE
  • JULIE ADAMS, RD
  • Latest News
  • LEAH, RN
  • LIBBY, RN
  • Liver
  • LIZ MOON, NP
  • Meet Our Staff
  • MICHELLE
  • OLIVIA
  • SHAYNE, Physical Therapist
  • TARA TROY, M.D. Gastroenterologist
  • The Gastrointestinal Systems
  • Uncategorized

Topics & Tags

Alzheimer's Anxiety C. Diff Celiac Disease Colonoscopy Constipation COVID-19 Crohn’s Disease Dementia Depression Diabetes Diarrhea Diet & Nutrition Diverticulitis Dysbiosis Eosinophilic Esophagitis Exercise & Fitness Fatty Liver Disease Fiber Gilbert’s Syndrome GUT-DIRECTED HYPNOTHERAPY Gut Microbiome Hepatocellular carcinoma Hypnotherapy Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Melanoma Mental Health Mind-Gut Connection Obesity Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) Pre- & Probiotics Psychogastroenterology Sleep Ulcerative Colitis


Education. Nutrition. Cognition. Prevention.

We are a new style of gastroenterology office and endoscopy center. We provide comprehensive personalized care of exceptional caliber with innovative strategies, cutting edge techniques, and sincere compassion.

Helpful Links

  • List of Services
  • Procedures
  • Meet Our Staff
  • Patient Resources
  • Book an Appointment
  • Get in Touch

Contact Us

We are conveniently located and easy to get to from Northbrook and surrounding areas including Glenview, Glencoe and Highland Park.

Address: 40 Skokie Blvd. Suite 110, Northbrook, Illinois 60062
Get Directions from Google Maps
Phone Number: (224) 407-4400
Fax Number: (224) 407-2255
Email Address: info@compgihealth.com

Copyright ©2022 - 2023. All rights reserved.