Managing stress is crucial for maintaining mental and physical well-being in today's busy world. There are various effective ways to help keep stress levels under control that don’t have to be time-consuming. Here are 9 ways to help manage stress:
- Deep Breathing and Meditation: Practice deep breathing exercises to help calm your nervous system. Try a variety of mindfulness meditation exercises to stay present and increase focus.
- Stretching: Practice deep breathing while stretching to help relieve tension and tightness created by stress.
- Regular Exercise: It’s important to exercise regularly to help release endorphins, which naturally help relieve stress and boost mood. Consistency is key.
- Healthy Lifestyle: Focus on eating a balanced, nutritious diet to boost your body’s overall health and improve your immune system.
- Limit Caffeine and Sugar Intake: Reduce consuming stimulants such as caffeine and sugar, as they can exacerbate stress.
- Time Management: Prioritize tasks and break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Once tasks are prioritized, schedule them into your routine where they fit best. Set realistic goals and deadlines to prevent feeling overwhelmed.
- Social Support: Create a social network of supportive individuals in your life that you can share your thoughts and feelings with. Prioritize spending time with loved ones and friends to strengthen your social connections and relationships.
- Hobbies and Leisure Activities: Make it a point to engage in activities you enjoy to aid in keeping your mind off of stressors. Hobbies offer a healthy outlet for stress and allow for a sense of accomplishment.
- Laughter Therapy: Engage in activities that make you laugh, such as comedy shows, videos, or looking up jokes. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins and reduces stress.
Learning how to manage your stress takes time. It takes trial and error of the methods mentioned above because we are all different and have different stressors. Once you identify the methods that work best for you, practicing them consistently is the key to keeping stress at bay in the future. If you feel like you are not able to gain control of your stress with self-management tools, work with your doctor to identify which resources may be best for you.
By, Coach Mariah