“If you don’t think your anxiety, depression, sadness and stress impact your physical health, think again. All of these emotions trigger chemical reactions in your body, which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system. Learn how to cope, sweet friend. There will always be dark days.”
Kris Carr
There are always going to be obstacles in your way, whether in your business or personal life. You will never completely avoid these obstacles and mistakes, but learning to effectively deal with stress will ensure that you learn from these situations and do not give in or give up. Below are some simple tips to help you manage and reduce your stress level. By utilising these tips, you can learn how to live a stress-free life.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine and nicotine:
Avoid or reduce your consumption of these. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and will increase your stress level – not reduce it. Alcohol is a depressant when taken in large quantities but acts as a stimulant in smaller quantities.
Indulge in physical activity:
Stressful situations increase the levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol in your body. These are known as “fight or flight” hormones designed to protect us from bodily harm when under threat. Physical exercise can help to metabolize these stress hormones and return your body and mind to a calmer and more relaxed state.
Get more sleep:
A lack of sleep is a significant cause of stress. Also, stress keeps our body and mind from relaxing and results in a lack of sleep. Instead of using medication to assist with sleep, you should aim to relax before bed time. Stop any physically and mentally demanding work hours before bed time and try a bath or reading (no electronic devices) to help relax. You should also aim to go to bed about the same time every night so your body and mind can develop a routine.
Try relaxation techniques:
You should try and relax every day with some stress reduction techniques. Self-hypnosis and yoga are skills you can work on to help you relax.
Talk to someone:
Sometimes just talking to someone about how you feel can be helpful. Chatting with a friend can help distract you from the stressful thoughts and can help release some of the built up tension. Stress can cloud your judgment, but talking it through with a friend or professional can help you put your problems into perspective and help you find solutions to your stress.
Keep a stress diary:
Keeping a stress diary for a few weeks can help you become more aware of the situations where you are likely to become the most stressed. This will in turn help you to develop some coping strategies for these types of situations, and help you to avoid the situations where you become the most stressed.
Take control:
Learning how to problem solve will help you feel more in control of the situation and will lower your level of stress. One problem solving technique is to write down the problem and then write down as many solutions that you can think of. You may also wish to write down steps that you will take to deal with a problem.
Manage your time:
The feeling of being overwhelmed can cause a great amount of stress. We must accept that we cannot do everything at once and that we will need to prioritize our tasks. Delegating tasks to those with a better suited skill set can also help to reduce stress related to time management. Remember to leave some of your day “unscheduled” to deal with unexpected issues as well as time for yourself for relaxation.
Learn to say “NO”:
Have you ever felt that you had so much to do and so little time to get it done? You need to know your limitations, and realize that you cannot over extend yourself just to be nice or helpful. Sometimes you just cannot take on any additional work – you have things to get done and still need time for yourself.
Rest if you are sick:
If you are sick, do not feel that you should carry on as usual. Rest will help your body recover faster therefore resulting in a shorter time that you will be under the weather.
If you want to learn how to live a stress-free life, then practice these simple tips to take charge of your existing stress and try to relax. Managing your stress levels will help you to be healthier.
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