Healthy Stress Management Tips
For the majority of us, living a stress-free life appears to be something far-fetched. Life has a way of bombarding us, relentlessly, with different pressures from all sides; and in most instances, our efforts seem to go unappreciated; a sad and worrying reality of life for the majority of us. Be that as it may, it is possible to manage soaring stress levels by merely acknowledging the fact that you are in control of life. This is the basis of stress management. According to psychologists, the top healthy stress management tip is taking charge of your life as an individual. You need to take charge of your emotions, lifestyle, thoughts, and the manner you handle your issues.
6 Healthy Stress Management Tips
Regardless of how stressful matters may be, there are a number of healthy stress management tips that you can employ and relieve the pressures of daily life. These healthy stress management tips include but are not limited to:
1. Identify your source of stress
You cannot manage stress without knowing the cause of your stress. Contrary to popular opinion, this process is not as straight forward as it may seem. The process requires you to do some self-introspection. This may be a strenuous task because, it may easy for you to identify significant sources of stress in your life like going through a divorce or break up, but it is challenging to identify the causes of chronic stress in your life. Many people overlook how much their behavior, thoughts, and feelings contribute to their daily levels of stress. For example, you may be aware that you are stressed about beating your work deadlines; but if you think about it, perhaps, it’s your habit of procrastination that is truly stressing you out rather than your workload.
In order to identify your individual sources of stress, you must analyze your attitudes, excuses, and habits carefully. It is not until we accept and take responsibility for the roles we play in maintaining and creating stress that we will be able to, effectively, manage it. Failure to do this, stress will always remain outside our control.
2. Avoid the use of drugs and substances for stress reduction
This is the worst recourse you can ever take in a bid to battle stress. Drugs, normally, appear to alleviate stress during consumption; but once you are back to your normal senses, you will, sadly, realize that your problems are still present. According to psychologists, people who are undergoing a stressful phase should avoid or reduce their intake of caffeine, alcohol and other drug-related substances. Nicotine and caffeine, for example, are stimulants that operate to increase your levels of stress rather than reduce it. When alcohol is taken in small quantities it acts as a stimulant; but when it is consumed in large quantities, it is a depressant. Therefore, using alcohol as a way of reducing stress is an act in futility.
Doctors also recommend that you should reduce or avoid the consumption of refined sugars. These are contained in certain bread, savory food and in manufactured foods generally. They are capable of causing energy crashes that will, ultimately, live you feeling irritable and tired. By and large, it is advisable that you maintained a balanced diet, especially during stressful periods.
3. Indulge regularly in physical activity
Normally, stressful situations have a tendency to increase your levels of stress hormones: cortisol and adrenaline. These are referred to as flight or fight hormones. Thanks to evolution, these hormones are hardwired into our brains, and they are specifically designed to protect us from bodily harm in dangerous situations. In the modern age, stress is not remedied by flight or fight hormones. This being the case, physical exercise can be used for the purpose of metabolizing excess stress hormones being produced by your body. By indulging in physical exercises, you will be able to keep your body and mind calmer and in a more relaxed state.
When feeling tensed and stressed, it is advisable that you go for a walk in the fresh air. Additionally, it is advisable that you incorporate physical exercises in your daily routine; this will not only reduce your stress levels, it will also improve the quality of your sleep.
4. Get adequate sleep
Lack of adequate sleep is a major contributor to stress among millions of people across the globe. Unfortunately, stress tends to interrupt our sleeping patterns because, instead of sleeping, thoughts keep on whirling through our minds. Instead of taking drugs, you are advised on focusing on maximizing your relaxation before sleeping; before hitting the bed, consider having a hot or cold shower, or reading an interesting book or magazine that is not mentally demanding. According to research, people who get adequate sleep are less likely to suffer from neurological conditions compared to those who do not.
5. Talk to someone
There is an old English proverb that says ‘’a problem shared is half solved’’. Talking to someone about your challenges and feelings can help reduce your stress levels tremendously. By talking to someone, you will be able to release some of the internal tension bottled up in you; and also, it helps distract you from stress-inducing thoughts. Stress clouds our judgment; and as a result, we are not able to see things clearly. By talking over matters with friends, family, colleagues or a professional you will be able to put things into perspective. Ultimately, this will help you find viable solutions to your problems.
6. Manage your time
For most of us, our to-do lists are a source of unimaginable stress. In order to avoid this, it is important that we accept the fact that everything cannot be done simultaneously. We can manage our time more effectively by prioritizing and diarizing our daily activities. It is advisable that you make a list of everything you want to do; there afterward, make a list of genuine priority. For example, you can note what tasks you need to do personally, and those that can be delegated to others. Additionally, note down tasks that require immediate attention and those that do not. This will help you breakdown what appears to be an unmanageable schedule into small manageable tasks spread over a longer and more comfortable timeline. Additionally, it is important that you make provisions for dealing with emergency situations, persona time, well-being and relaxation.
Conclusion
Stress affects both our physical and emotional health status. Stress management has everything to do with avoiding things that trigger stress and practicing healthy stress management tips such as the above-mentioned ones. In order to manage stress effectively, you must approach the matter holistically. This will ensure that you get to the root of the matter and will help you handle it more effectively.
As always…
I love you all!! Stay on the good path!!
Your Coach
Anastasia
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