It's important to not only recognize the things that trigger stress, but also the ways you can cope with stress. To successfully manage stress levels, it's important to have the right tools and processes set in place. Discover the key things you'll need to bust stress!
First, understand the cause(s) of your stress. Maybe you're putting too much pressure on yourself by overbooking your personal calendar, or perhaps you just had a lot of responsibility placed upon you at the office. Whatever it is, try to isolate what it is that is causing you to feel stressed. Pinpointing what is causing your stress will allow you to figure out a way that is best to relieve the stress you are feeling.
1. Posture
If you're feeling tense, a simple adjustment to your posture can do the trick. Often, stress can cause you to tighten up and slouch over. By recognizing this and releasing yourself from this stressful bind, you regain control and can actively adjust yourself. To relieve tension, sit up straight and roll your shoulders and neck around a bit. This will help alleviate any built up tension and allow your posture to reset.
2. Breathe
Or two, or three. Make sure they're slow, deep inhales and equally as slow exhales. By focusing on your breathing, you instantly take your mind off of your stress. This not only allows you to acknowledge and take hold of your stress, but it also allows you to calm yourself down. Stress often causes us to forget to breathe deeply when doing so can help to settle our nerves and steady our minds. Taking the time to consider your breath and breathing slowly and deeply throughout your day can help to center your mind, clear your thoughts, and figure out what is really stressing you. Then, you can take the necessary steps to calm down.
3. Cleaning
Believe it or not, cleaning can be a stress buster! Whether it's a deep clean or a simple wipe down, it's important to have the right cleaning supplies. Tackling a cleaning or organizational task without a plan or the right equipment can cause even more stress. Set your mind on a cleaning or organizing task, gather the right tools, and bust that stress!
4. Food
Stress can be triggered when blood sugars are low and you quickly become agitated. By eating something, you can quickly regain a sense of calmness. Foods that are high in fatty acids or foods that are somewhat spicy have been known to do the trick. Feeling pressure from day-to-day can take its toll on a person. Reward yourself for all of the hard work you put in! Whether it's enjoying your favorite movie or book series with a cup of tea or taking delight in a cupcake after your meal, it's okay to indulge yourself sometimes. Taking the time to personally recognize your achievements and repay yourself can make your day-to-day stresses seem smaller. No matter what you crave, be sure to take eat it in moderation! Consuming too much can cause weight gain and further increase your level of stress.
5. Quiet
Sometimes all it takes is removing yourself from the hustle and bustle of daily life, even if only for a moment. Step away from your computer, your phone, and anything else that notifies you throughout the day and step into a quiet place. Take this time to focus quieting your mind and bust through any stress you are feeling.
6. Exercise
If you feel stress mounting, working out can help you bust through it. While it may seem like a difficult task to get started, you'll feel much better after a quick jog or a few pumps of iron. Not only are you focusing on something else, but your stress will help you work harder during your workout!
7. Laugh
Watching a funny video online or talking to a friend on the phone can conjure up a giggle. When you're feeling stressed out, a whole-hearted laugh can help you regain happiness and reset your stress levels.
8. Meditate
Taking a few moments to turn your thoughts inward can help you to de-stress. Centering your mind on exactly what is stressing you out and focusing on it will help you evaluate your situation and help to clear away issues.
9. Write
Releasing your feelings onto paper or your computer can be therapeutic to someone who feels stress mounting.
10. Talk
Sharing your feelings with someone else, whether to a friend or a psychologist, can provide relief to someone feeling stressed. Putting your stress out there will help take the pressure off of you, which sometimes is all it takes to alleviate it!
11. Plan
Making plans with friends or booking a vacation can take your mind off of stressing and give you something to look forward to! By filling your calendar with activities that you want to do and balancing those activities with things that you have to do can help keep stress at bay.
12. Hydrate
Bust through stress by drinking a glass of water. Stress can cause your mouth to dry up, so replenishing your body with water can help calm you down. Avoid drinking sugary drinks like soda to prevent spikes in attitude.
13. Read
Diving into a good book can help take your mind off of whatever is stressing you. Envelop yourself in a good story. Analyze characters or plot twists to further take your mind away from the causes of stress.
14. Music
Whether you pop on a pair of headphones and crank up a song or pick up an instrument and start a jam session, music can be a major stress reliever!
15. Do
Find an activity that you enjoy doing and make it your go-to stress buster. Whether it's taking a yoga class or painting on canvas, find something that you are passionate about and make time for that activity. Exerting energy is a great stress reliever. Whether it's taking a yoga class at your local gym or running for miles through a local park, getting your heart rate up is a great way to break through a stressful outbreak. Utilizing physical activity as your stress buster is not only good for your health, but there are also so many options! When it comes to getting a good workout in, you can participate in an activity that is in line with your personal fitness level, whether that's running 5 miles or taking an hour-long yoga class. Turn to it when you feel truly overwhelmed, and use it as a tool to help you bust through stress.
There are many ways to combat the feeling of stress. No matter how much pressure you feel on a daily basis, remember the importance of taking time for yourself and enjoying any of these stress busters. Start challenging yourself to relax more often throughout the day, and try and see a difference in your stress levels! When you're stressed, sometimes all it takes is to get out of your head. Keep stress to a minimum with these stress-busting essentials.
