Stress affects all our lives in so many ways and it seems that most of us now accept it as part of everyday life, But it doesn’t have to be…
Stress can affect people in many different ways but left unmanaged, stress can lead to health problems, mental health issues anxiety disorders. Going to see your GP maybe something that in itself, can cause you stress but there is help and support available, you’ll find some links at the bottom of this article.
Here are 10 years that you can start to reduce the stress in your life right now.
Exercise:
Going for a brisk walk can reduce the excessive stress hormones in your system and restore your body and mind to a calmer, more relaxed state. Try to include some exercise into your daily routine on a regular basis, either before or after work, or at lunchtime, this will also improve the quality of your sleep.
Self-care when under the weather:
If you are not feeling 100%, even if it’s just a cold, you need to give your body the time and space to heal and recuperate with rest. Taking time out may seem excessive when there’s so much to do, but allowing your body the time to focus on nothing but healing with a little time out will help you recover faster and reduce the risk of making yourself worse. Time out is also good for the mind and a little me-time can help you cope with life better.
Meditation:
Many celebrities and wellness coaches and their clients swear by meditation, but you don’t have to be an expert or guru to try it – Just 5 minutes in a quite place to relax and reflect on the things in your life you are grateful for can calm your mind and bring a feeling of peace. Try downloading a guided meditation app to your phone and follow the instructions if you have trouble switching off
Smoking:
Did you know that having a cigarette can have the opposite affects you might except? Many smokers tend to light up to help with a stressful situation, but in fact, nicotine is a stimulant, just like alcohol, so can increase your stress levels rather than reduce them
Take control:
How you react to a situation can be stressful, if you are faced with a problem that seems overwhelming, try writing it down, make a list of solutions and the good and bad points they have, then then make a plan with smaller tasks to help the problem become more manageable.
Talk to someone:
You’ve heard the saying that a problem shared is a problem halved? Well we believe there is much truth in this… When you’re stressed, the smallest problem can become a huge issue if you overthink and over analyse it, and sometimes, all we need is a little perspective. Whether you make time to have a coffee with a friend or loved one, visit a group such as Women’s Wellbeing Club or Andy’s Man Club, or make a call to an organisation like the Samaritans, a little reassurance that you’re not alone, you can cope and that everything will be OK is sometimes all you need.
Try taking a tech-free hour:
Electronic devices can over stimulate our brains and elevate the stress hormone within our bodies. Try switching of the TV, phone or laptop for an hour and getting outside in the fresh air or retreating to a quiet room to read a book, do a puzzle or play with the kids can reset your system and bring you back to yourself.
Be selfish!
Take a break from everything and everyone around you and do something for yourself – indulge in a guilty pleasure, make a latte and grab a magazine, lay down with a book or put on your headphone and listen to your favourite playlist for a few minutes, try journaling or starting a diary, go for a walk or go shopping and buy something just for you.
Connect with nature:
Next time you take the kids or the dogs to the park or beach, try taking off your shoes! Studies show that bare feet connecting to grass, sand or the ocean or river grounds you, reduces the stress hormones and surround yourself with those healing negative ions that are abundant in nature, especially around waterfalls, on the ocean surf, at the beach and widespread in mountains and forests.
Accept the things you can’t change:
Changing a difficult situation isn’t always possible. Try to concentrate on the things you do have control over.
If you would like to talk to someone about anxiety or mental health, try one of the organisations on our resources page or pop along to one of our clubs.