Stress can become a mental health problem just as serious as other disorders. Long-term, oppressive stress saps motivation, energy, and happiness. Take a stand against stress and put the advice in this article to work for you in your efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle with greater peace of mind.
Prepare the day and evening before for what you need for the next day. Taking even the smallest item off of your plate can help reduce your stress immediately. Since each thing that is on your plate adds to the stress you are feeling, by being able to get a thing or two done early, you will have fewer things to get done the next day and therefore feel less stressed.
Make an affirmation, or a positive statement to use as a coping mechanism. Sometimes self-doubt and anxiety can make the effects of stress even worse, and it is these pessimistic thoughts that a good affirmation counteracts. You will feel much better if you continually repeat that you can feel calm and you can feel better.
Go out for a walk, jog or bike ride in the park with your friends to enjoy the beauty of nature. Not only will the exercise work out tension, it will also help you to flush out toxins in your system through sweating. Jogging, running, or using a treadmill can help to de-stress your life.
Try writing about your stress to relax. There may be situations in your life that are causing stress to increase, but you can’t discuss them with anyone. However, by writing them down you are effectively getting them off your chest, and that may help to lower your stress levels. Keep a journal of these writings, and in the future you can look back on them and see what you did to solve them or relieve the stress.
Figuring out exactly where your stress comes from is a priority, since the array of potential causes is so vast. If you can remove it from your life, then you should do so. Eliminating any source of stress from your life should provide immediate and lasting relief.
Drinking alcohol is a really bad way to cure a stress filled day. It is fine to have a drink now and then, but relying on alcohol to get you through your day is a bad idea. Alcohol is a depressant, and can lead to more stress and eventually addiction.
Look at how you commonly deal with stress to determine if there are things you can do to better handle it. Keep a record for a few weeks that logs what causes you stress, and your reactions. Looking back at your notes will allow you to judge your responses: were the results helpful and were they healthy in nature? If you aren’t, then try to devise a new coping strategy that will help you to deal with things on a day to day basis.
Playing Video Games
A great method of dealing with stress is to spend some time playing video games, especially for young adults. Playing a game forces you to focus on the strategy, thus helping to distract you from other worries. Playing video games with a friend can also improve your overall mood.
Don’t burden yourself with the stress of lies or half-truths. Studies show that even when people tell a small lie, they may feel a lot of guilt and anxiety about the truth possibly coming out.
Make yourself feel better by doing something nice for someone else if your day is being too stressful. Get a small gift for your significant other or spend some time with your child for instance. Concentrating on others is an excellent distraction from stress, and seeing your loved ones’ happiness can give your mood a much needed boost on a stressful day.
Purchase items, like body lotion and body wash, that smell good. Smelling good during the day will let you feel less self conscious about yourself which reduces your stress levels. Invest in body sprays and lotions to improve your frame of mind.
Try to cut back on caffeine consumption during the day. Caffeine increases hormones that make you feel stressed, so drinking coffee may actually increase your stress level. Green tea is a great coffee substitute and will help to reduce stress, not increase it.
Tonics can be a great stress reliever and are worth a shot if you’ve exhausted other options. It may be worth trying out homeopathy as a way to relieve stress. Natural remedies, like the ones just mentioned, are extremely safe and effective for lots of people. Try herbs such as Kava, which some studies show is as effective as alprazolam, better known as Xanax.
Spending time cuddling with pets can decrease your heart rate. The mere act of petting a soft animal can be enough to take the edge off any stress you are experiencing. Animals can also teach you not to worry about the future so much. You may be able to deal with depression better, if you have a pet.
Have a petting session with your pet to get rid of stress. Studies have shown that animal owners are less stressed and that they have happier lives. You will feel better and the animals will feel loved.
Stress Ball
You should try and squeeze a stress ball when feeling stressed out and tense. The act of tensing your muscles, then releasing them, is a physical way to help your body release built-up stress. This will make your muscles work as well as unwind any tension. You can keep a stress ball with you so you can use it in the times you need it.
Stress can stop anyone in their tracks and prohibit their ability to be productive in any area of life. The only motivation that stress provides is the motivation to give up. This article has hopefully provided you with a number of methods you can now use to more effectively deal with stress.
