Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain caused by adverse circumstances. It is your body’s response to a challenge or demand: from minor challenges to major crises, stress is part of life. Many people deal with stress every day. Work, family issues, health concerns, and financial obligations are parts of everyday life that commonly contribute to heightened stress levels. And while you can’t always control your circumstances, you can control how you respond to them.
When stress becomes overwhelming or chronic, it can affect your well-being. Minimizing the chronic stress of daily life as much as possible is important for overall health. That’s because chronic stress harms health and increases your risk of health conditions such as heart disease, anxiety disorders, and depression.
The following are some of the effective stress relieving ways that can calm your mind and body;
1) MEDITATE
Meditation brings short-term stress relief as well as lasting stress management benefits. There are many different forms of meditation to try–each one is unique and brings its own appeal. You might develop a mantra that you repeat in your mind as you take slow deep breaths. Or, you might take a few minutes to practice mindfulness, which involves being in the moment. Simply pay attention to what you see, hear, taste, touch, and smell.
When you’re focused on the here and now, you won’t be able to ruminate about something that already happened, and you can’t worry about something in the future. Meditation takes practice but it can make a big difference in your overall stress level as it brings you back to the present.
2) EXERCISE REGULARLY
In addition to having physical health benefits, exercise has been shown to be a powerful stress reliever. Consider doing light exercises such as walking or jogging. You can try strengthening with weights or movement activities like Yoga or Zumba. Aerobic exercises have been shown to release endorphins; natural substances that help you feel better and maintain positive attitude.
3) FOLLOW A HEALTHY DIET
Your diet affects every aspect of your health, including your mental health. Studies show that people who follow a diet high in ultra-processed foods and added sugar are more likely to experience higher perceived stress levels. Being chronically stressed may lead you to overeat and reach for highly palatable foods, which may harm your overall health and mood.
Minimizing your intake of highly processed foods and beverages and eating more whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, fish, nuts, and seeds can help ensure that your body is properly nourished. In turn, this may improve your resilience to stress.
4) CUT OUT THINGS THAT ADD TO YOUR STRESS
Sometimes, the best way to reduce your stress is to cut something out of your life. Get rid of the things that are adding to your stress so you can experience more peace. Watching the news, being constantly connected to your digital devices, drinking alcohol, and consuming too much caffeine are just a few of the things that may add more stress to your life. Procrastination can also harm your productivity and leave you scrambling to catch up, this can cause stress. Making some changes to your daily habits could be instrumental in helping you feel better.
5) SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Social support from friends and family may help you get through stressful times and cope with stress. Having a social support system is important for your overall mental health. If you’re feeling alone and don’t have friends or family to depend on, social support groups may help. Consider joining a club or sports team or volunteering for a cause that’s important to you. Strong social ties may help you get through stressful times and manage overall mental well-being.
BOTTOM LINE
Stress is an unavoidable part of life. Learning new ways to cope with stress is vital for both mental and physical health. And although there are many ways to reduce stress on you own, it’s important to get help when you need it, especially a professional.
Written by Sharon
