How To Manage Stress In A Crazy World
Some people might think that you can’t manage stress because stress is just something part of your everyday life. But feeling stressed out all the time can affect every other part of your life like the way you think, communicate, and function. Simply realizing that the reins are in your hands will allow you to take back control of your thoughts and emotions. Health runs deeper than exercise and nutrition. To truly be healthy, I feel like you have to be in a positive headspace. Just like exercise, stress is not a one size fits all. I understand not all of the tips below will work for everyone, but they help me when I’m feeling stressed or anxious.
Stress Tip 1- Keep A Journal
It’s easy to overlook your thoughts and emotions throughout the day. Write as many details down when you get stressed out. What made the situation stressful? How did you feel? And how did you react to the situation? Keeping a daily journal can help you notice any similar patterns. For example if stress arises towards the end of your day, maybe you can start going for evening walks.
Stress Tip 2- Create Lists & Prioritize
Realize that not everything will be crossed off your list. Unfortunately everyone leaves this world with plenty of tasks uncrossed. Creating to-do lists can help you figure out what needs to get done now and what can wait until tomorrow. I like to write the most important tasks at the top of my list so I know where my attention should be.
Stress Tip 3- Move Your Body!
I know the last thing I want to do when I am stressed out is get off the couch. But physical activity helps your body release endorphins, which can give you a happy distraction. Take a walk around your neighbor, put some music on and dance around the livingroom, or go for a bike ride. You don’t need to do some intense weight lifting program, just get that blood flowing.
Stress Tip 4- Make Time For Yourself
Rest and relaxation are so important for your physical and mental health. Self care is thought of as a luxury, but it should be a daily priority. Take some time out of your day to draw, practice yoga, or do anything you enjoy. I also love to look up hilarious compilations of old Vines to stress less. Finding the humor in situations and not taking life too seriously is a great way to smile more and escape from the pressure of life.
Stress Tip 5- Use Your Time Wisely
A lot of the time it’s not the deadline that stresses us out. It’s our procrastinating that drives us mad. Of course there are only a certain number of hours in the day, but you can use them to your advantage. I like to make lists! I write down everything I need or want to accomplish in the order of importance. It’s easy to waste our time with mindless busy work. But if we focus our time on getting the big things done first, we’ll reach our goals faster. I also like to break tasks up into smaller projects. This helps my brain not feel so overwhelmed.
Stress Tip 6- There’s a Time To Say No
Oftentimes we think we can take on way more than we can actually handle. We are naturally people pleasers. But you have to remember that you cannot make everyone happy. You also can’t be in more than one place at a time. Deciding what you value most will help you figure out where to allocate your time.
Stress Tip 7- Learn To Forgive
You have to accept the fact that not everything is going to be perfect all the time. Learn to forgive each other and let things go. If you hold onto grudges, you’ll hold on to negative energy and ain’t nobody got time for that. You’re doing yourself a disservice by keeping hate in your heart. Rember, everyone is going through their own battles, so let that shit go. You’re also going to let yourself down from time to time, so forgive and move on with your life.
Stress Tip 8- But First, Heal
Starting an exercise program is a lot of extra stress on the body. If you are at a time in your life when you are feeling high levels of stress, don’t jump into any intense training. It might be in your best interest to get your mental space in a positive, less anxious place. Meditation, yoga, walks, and jogs are a great place to start.
Stress Tip 9- Clean!
Honey, when my area is a mess, my life feels like it’s a mess. For me, all I’ll be able to concentrate on is how dirty my house is or how I should organize my car. I’ve learned and developed a habit to clean up my space before I go to sleep. It helps sets the tone of the day when I wake up to an organized, tidy house.
How do you manage stress?
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Peace & Love,
Heather
