Stress can mess with your mind and body. It’s time to stop being overwhelmed by stress and take control.
If you are struggling with a lot of stress and unchecked anxiety, you are not alone. Luckily, there are ways to deal with it. Here we have compiled tips to help you manage your stress.
Tip#1: Get Active
It may seem counterintuitive at the start because in your stressed out and anxious state, the last thing you may want to do is exercise. But, exercise can do wonders for the stressed body and the anxious mind.
Exercise and other physical activities, trigger the release of feel-good chemicals, called Endorphins. These chemicals help relieve pain. They also help improve sleep, which on its own does wonders to reduce stress and anxiety.
Another thing about exercise is that it is sometimes referred to as ‘Meditation in Motion’. As you concentrate on your body’s movements, you will find yourself forgetting about the anxieties that plagued you through the day.
Go for a jog or go to the gym. If you have a sport you enjoy doing, invite a friend to play a game with you. It could also be a simple as taking a brisk walk around your neighborhood or take on a nearby hiking and bike trail.
Tip#2: Set Aside Time for Relaxation and Creativity
If you are looking for ways to relieve stress and anxiety naturally then look no further than relaxation and a dose of creativity.
Set aside time to relax. It could be watching a movie, reading a book, or listening to your favorite music.
It could also be doing a hobby like gardening, painting, drawing, working with clay, or other artistic pursuits. It doesn’t matter what you choose to do, just as long as you are being creative.
Creative activities have been shown to have a positive effect on stress levels. It doesn’t matter if you are naturally creative or not or even if you don’t think you have any ‘talents’.
The important thing is that you are doing something that takes focus and helps you achieve a relaxing ‘flow’.
Tip#3: Spend Time With People You Love
Being social and spending time with people you have fun with and people you love is a good way to help manage stress.
If you are around people you trust, you will likely talk about what is stressing you out. Even if they cannot offer help, the simple act of talking about your problems is a form of stress relief.
Spending time with certain people can also help keep you from resorting to negative coping mechanisms like smoking, drinking alcohol, and doing drugs.
Being with friends and family you love can also help mitigate the negative effects of stress on your body. A certain study showed that people had lower blood pressures when they were around friends.
We all go through stressful and anxious periods. It is a part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it constantly.
