Stress: it’s something we all have to navigate. If we don’t deal with stress in a healthy way, it can destroy our physical and mental health, as well as our relationships. Learning to mitigate the stressors in our lives is an important skill — it’s vital to have a list of tips and tricks that can help us cope during those overwhelming moments.
Some of these suggested methods are spur-of-the-moment exercises that can come in handy whenever you need them and wherever you are. For example, meditation is an excellent exercise in slowing down your nervous system through the stillness of the body and calmness of the mind. It could take many forms — like developing a mantra that helps you mentally battle through the stress or simply closing your eyes and taking deep breaths. Another form of meditation is mindfulness exercise, which forces you to use all of your senses and alleviate the tension in your body. These programs can be easily found online or by downloading an app to your smartphone.
Getting up from your chair and going on a walk is also a great way to relieve stress and get physical exercise. For many, sitting at a desk all day can cause tension and stiffness physically, which can exacerbate feelings of anxiety or discomfort. By getting up to take a walk — whether it be just outside of your office or even taking your lunch break to visit a nearby park — it can be a nice distraction from the moment of stress you’re feeling. Never underestimate the power of changing scenery and allowing your mind to consider the aesthetics of the world around you when you’re looking for a mental break.
Reserving time to enjoy your hobbies is a proactive way to deal with stress. We often get so busy jumping from one task or appointment to the next, we forget to stop and permit ourselves to do the things that bring us joy. It may be taking a day off every month to go to the beach, or go somewhere scenic to have a picnic. It may be taking a morning to yourself to play a round of golf, or to create a piece of artwork. It’s essential not just to withdraw energy from your emotional bank account — you need to make frequent deposits. By doing this, you will find a better life balance, which will lead to fewer moments of stress.
Eating a healthy diet can also be a variable that helps regulate stress. If we consistently eat unhealthy foods and sugary drinks, our blood pressure can spike, leading us to the dreaded blood sugar crash. When that happens, we may be more susceptible to anxiety and stress. Eating a healthier diet and drinking lots of water can help our bodies maintain balance instead of the peaks and valleys of junk food consumption.
Lastly, one way to avoid stress is to remove the source. This may not always be possible — there are some things that are stress-inducing that we cannot avoid. However, if you can forgo an activity or task, consider cutting it out of your life. It may not be easy, but if it consistently is the cause of anxiety, you will be much happier if you replace it with something that brings you joy.
Your physical and mental health needs to take priority. First, assess the sources of stress in your day-to-day life and find the places where you can substitute activities that bring you joy instead of anxiety. Once you even the scales a bit, you’ll be able to handle stressful situations better when they do arise.