Whenever you are feeling stressed out, relaxing and deciding how to proceed can be very difficult. When stress has you overwhelmed it has a power to debilitate you. Luckily, there are several methods to combat stress. Follow these great tips to take action and make stress a thing of the past.
Try to visualize being calm when you feel overwhelmed and stress. Imagine yourself taking a relaxing bath or hot shower and notice that your stress levels will lessen. You can also try deep breathing techniques while closing your eyes and envisioning a peaceful scene, such as a spring meadow, the sun setting over the ocean, a snow-capped mountain range, or any other calming vista.
Become stress-free by sniffing things. The scents of essential oils like chamomile, eucalyptus, thyme and peppermint can have a powerful calming effect. Fill a small screw-top vial with a pinch of mineral salt, and a drop or two of your favorite fragrant oil. When you are feeling stressed, open the vial and take a whiff.
Be knowledgeable about stress and how it affects you. When you learn about what puts you under stress and increases your stress levels, you are in a better position to work to reduce it. Stress can result from dealing with anything or anyone. Once you get a handle on what is causing your stress, it becomes much easier to lessen it or get rid of it completely.
Try writing about your stress to relax. Sometimes people feel stressed about a situation that they can’t reveal to others. In these cases, writing about the situation can be very therapeutic. Keep a journal containing the things that stressed you out, and how you solved them or relieved your stress, that way you can refer back to it.
While you may feel quite tense, you should not turn to alcohol for a quick fix. Having a few drinks with a friend is okay, but you should not drink every day. This can easily push you into a downward cycle that is difficult to break.
If you are under a lot of stress, and it is affecting your mood, take the time to let those around you know that it isn’t their fault. Often family members, especially children, can feel like it is something they have done that has upset you. Try to keep in mind that stress is yours to deal with, and should not be foisted upon your loved ones.
Examine how you deal with stress. Then you can think of ways to cope with it better. Think about logging your stress and what causes it over a few weeks. See whether or not your reactions to different situations can be improved. If not, you can then develop new coping strategies to help you better handle day to day stress.
Being able to listen to your own music at work can help quite a bit. Choose calming, low-key music that will keep you relaxed. If you decide to play something a little quicker, make sure it is upbeat and happy in terms of lyrics.
Unhealthy Habits
Try to replace the unhealthy habits in your life with more positive and productive ones. Over-eating, for example, can easily be turned into a quick walk or a few push-ups as a means of combating stress. Switching your unhealthy habits with ones that are good for you, will have you feeling stronger and more able to deal with the stress in your everyday life to begin with.
Stand next to a stationary wall, put your hands up against it and push really hard, keeping your feet pressed into the floor. Stretching your hamstrings can be an effective technique for stress reduction.
Daydreaming is a nice way to break up a stressful day. Think about the places you want to be and simply allow your mind to drift away to another dimension. Tense situations are easier to deal with when you use this calming method.
In order to avoid stressful situations, you should always plan ahead for potential problems. Always have a backup plan for everything you plan. You should always have different payment options on you or spare keys for instance. Knowing how to handle your problems ahead of time will make them much easier to deal with.
You can eliminate some stress by making lifestyle changes. If you improve your diet and exercise routine, for example, your body will be better equipped to combat stress. When you are living a healthier lifestyle, you will find yourself in control and that will cause you to be more at ease.
Listening to your favorite music is an excellent technique of reducing your stress. It has been proven that music therapy is effective against stress, but only if the kind of music has soothing effects on you. Choose the music that you enjoy, as everyone’s taste in music is different. Music that you enjoy releases serotonin in your body which is a natural mood booster.
Work on just staying no if you are feeling overwhelmed. Remember that the most important person to please is yourself.
Stay positive at all times and avoid focusing on the problems in your life. Take control of your stress and you can beat it.
