EIGHT TIPS TO MANAGE STRESS
Stress is the body's reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It's very common, can be motivating to help us achieve things in our daily life, and can help us meet the demands of home, work and family life.
But, too much stress can affect our mood, our body and our relationships – especially when it feels out of our control. It can make us feel anxious and irritable, and affect our self-esteem.
Experiencing a lot of stress over a long period of time can also lead to a feeling of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, or as we know it... BURNTOUT. When you're stressed, your head may start to hurt, or you may feel nauseated, dizzy, or just plain overwhelmed. Stress can have a huge impact on every aspect of your life, so stress reduction is necessary for maintaining both your physical and emotional health. Since you can't simply wish stress away, managing stress is a vital skill to develop.
Whether you experience a sudden stressful situation, such as a major issue at work or a crisis at home that needs to be addressed right away, having a plan for stress in place is a good idea. If it's an urgent problem that requires your immediate attention, managing stress is important so that you can think clearly. The same is true with ongoing, nagging concerns about your job, health, finances, or family members that create a steady buildup of stress.
Try these tips to help you with general stress reduction as well as specific anxiety-provoking experiences.
1. Step Back and Put the Problem in Perspective
Maybe you're disappointed that you didn't get a promotion you were up for or concerned that money is a little tight this month because of an unexpected bill. Feeling stressed is a natural reaction. But try to take a step back and ask yourself: Will this issue still matter in a year? In five years? If the answer is no, take a deep breath and try to move forward. Keeping things in perspective is crucial to managing stress.
2. List Some Solutions and Come Up With a Plan
If there's a specific problem you need to fix, make a list of all possible solutions and pick the best one for your situation. Realising that you have options and coming up with a concrete plan will have a direct effect on stress reduction. Break the task into smaller parts so you can try to accomplish what you need to in an hour, a day and then next week so the problem becomes more manageable.
3. Accept Those Things Beyond Your Control
Some circumstances are simply beyond our control, and we have to learn to cope with and accept them. Fortunately, you do have control over how you react to stressful situations. Staying calm and being willing to accept emotional support from others can help in managing stress.
4. Give Yourself a Break to Relax and Recharge
Daily stressors can creep up on you before you realise it, so treat yourself to at least one relaxing activity every day. Listening to music, meditating, writing in a journal, or enjoying a soothing bubble bath are all great ways to relax and relieve stress. Meditation allows us to clear our minds and be able to see things in a more realistic perspective,taking time for yourself is important for both preventing and managing stress.
5. Try to Get Some Regular Exercise Every Day
Exercise is one of the best methods for managing stress because it can relieve both the physical and emotional effects of stress. Consider fitness choices that also deliver specific stress-reducing effects like yoga, tai chi, Pilates, or one of the martial arts, all great ways to get rid of pent-up stress and negativity. Exercise can help regulate and dissipate in a productive way those 'fight or flight' stress chemicals in the brain, so even taking a walk will do your stress levels some good.
6. Open Up to People and Express Your Feelings
If something's bothering you, don't keep it to yourself. Talk to people you trust, like friends, family, or coworkers, about what's on your mind. Even if you're not looking for specific advice, it usually feels good just to get your feelings out into the open. If you feel like you want to talk to someone in confidence about stress or anxiety you may be experiencing you can text BURNTCHEF to 85258 24/7.
7. Set Reasonable Expectations in Your Daily Life
Being busy is sometimes inevitable, but regularly taking on more than you can manage can cause unwanted and unwelcome stress. Tell yourself that it's okay to say no to activities — you are not obligated to accept every request made of you. Additionally, don't take on more financial responsibilities — such as a new car or a bigger house — if you think they'll be a stretch. Being realistic about your finances is an important strategy for managing stress.
8. Resolve Issues Before They Become Crises
It’s human nature to avoid unpleasant topics and circumstances, but if you're concerned about a brewing situation, whether it's at work or at home, address it early to keep it from becoming more serious, harder to solve, and more stressful for you. Problems are always easier to handle before they develop into full-blown calamities.
Everyone feels stress — it's impossible to avoid it all the time. But it is possible to keep stress under control by setting realistic expectations of yourself, learning how to keep problems in perspective, and enjoying relaxing breaks from the daily demands of life.
If you're feeling overwhelmed and are looking to find a moment of calm, try this simple process to relieve your stress.
Inhale for four seconds
Hold your breath for seven seconds
Exhale for eight seconds
Repeat four times
Want to speak to someone about how you're feeling?
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲...
𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗙 𝘁𝗼 𝟴𝟱𝟮𝟱𝟴 (𝗨𝗞)
𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝟳𝟰𝟭𝟳𝟰𝟭 (𝗨𝗦𝗔 & 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗔)
𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝟬𝟴𝟬𝟬 𝟵𝟭𝟱 𝟰𝟲𝟭𝟬 (𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱)
𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝟭𝟴𝟬𝟬 𝟭𝟵𝟴 𝟯𝟭𝟯 (𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮)
𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝟬𝟴𝟲𝟭 𝟯𝟮𝟮 𝟯𝟮𝟮 (𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮)
𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝟱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀