Stress is something that affects us all. It’s the emotional and physical strain that comes from how we react to things in the outside world. Some examples of major stressors include: job termination, illness, injury, divorce, loss of a loved one, toxic relationships, and sometimes just the daily grind. Left unchecked, chronic stress can lead to major health problems such as heart disease, depression, diabetes and many others. Therefore, it’s important to learn coping strategies to ensure good personal health.
Before, you do anything, you need to realize what triggers your stress. Once you figure this out you can start to deal with the triggers. If these are events that constantly trigger stress, you should try to avoid them or significantly reduce the amount of time you’re involved in those situations.
Try to focus your energy on positive things in your life. When you feel stress coming on, learn to control your emotions on how you’re going to deal with it, and try some of these practical tips:
ExercisingThis is an effective way to becoming stress free. Try to exercise three to four times per week for 20-30 minutes at a time.
Eat a Healthy DietStart your day with a healthy breakfast, and keep your energy and focus with balanced and nutritious meals during the day. It’s often better to eat 3 smaller meals so you can also build in several healthy snacks.
Avoid Alcohol & CigarettesWhile alcohol and cigarettes might seem like a release from stress, they are only temporary and not healthy for you. Don’t avoid your problems, but deal with them head on.
Scale Back –We all have a tendency to commit to too much and to try to please everyone. Too many things vying for your time lead to stress. Try to cut out activities that aren’t absolutely crucial, and wherever possible, learn to delegate.
Prepare -Stress mounts when we don’t have adequate time for traffic, meetings or other important activities. Try to do as much as possible ahead of time and allow adequate time to avoid the crunch.
Take Up a Hobby -Taking up an activity that you enjoy can help you rest and relax and divert your mind from stressful thoughts.
Use Relaxation Techniques:
o Soft music can be therapeutic for a stressful mind.
o Yoga can be used as a relaxation technique. Besides being used as exercise, yoga can restore you to a sense of balance.
o Meditation can be a very effective way to get rid of negative thoughts and relieve stress.
o Deep breathing can help you relax and relieve stress. Take a few deep breaths, and as you slowly exhale, feel yourself relax.
As you can see there are many strategies to help you cope with stress. Try a few at a time, and see what seems to help you the most.