Feeling stressed? From minor challenges to major crises, stress has now become a part of day-to-day life. According to Mind, one in five people take a day off work or university due to stress. Whether you’re trying to juggle work, family, studying or other commitments, while we can’t always control our circumstances, we can control how we respond to them.
Learning how to manage your stress does take practice – there’s no one size fits all approach. With the correct tips to help, you can be happier, healthier, and more productive. In this post, we share what stress is, our best tips for controlling stress and the importance of managing your stress for long-term health. It’s time to gain control, take your life back and protect your mental and physical health.
We’ll cover:
What is Stress?
Stress is the body’s response to feeling threatened or under abnormal amounts of pressure. It’s something EVERYONE will experience from time to time. Feeling stressed can cause a variety of physical symptoms, it can change the way you behave, and lead you to experience more intense emotions. Feeling anxious or irritable? Have moments of low self-esteem? These can also be signs that you’re stressed too.
Sometimes, it’s hard not to get overwhelmed with the pressure and expectations we experience as individuals every single day.
But it’s not all negative! For some, stress can also be seen as a motivator to help achieve things such as the demands of work and university. Other aspects of life can cause stress too, including any transitional period, relationships, family life and financial worries. You may find that it has a cumulative effect, with each stressor building on top of one another.
Individually, we need to understand what is causing us personal stress and learn the steps we can take to reduce it for ourselves and those around us.
Tips To Control Your Stress
Get Moving
Exercising daily is one of the most effective ways to combat your stress in minutes! Exercising doesn’t always mean an intense gym class either. Walking, taking the stairs instead of the lift, dancing to your favourite song and stretching all equate to moving your body. Even a short burst of 10 minutes of brisk walking can increase our mental alertness, energy and positive mood.
Exercise lowers your body’s natural stress hormones and releases endorphins – your body’s natural painkillers. Exercising can also improve your sleep quality and your overall confidence – what a great multitasking stress reliever!
Write It Down
Journaling is a practice that generally involves keeping a diary or journal of thoughts and feelings – it’s an ancient tradition, one that dates back to at least the 10th century! A journal can be used daily or as a guide to help you through different events in your life.
Journaling is a stress-management tool that can help with gratitude, emotional processing and mental clarity. It’s also a good problem-solving tool – sometimes we can blow things out of proportion but when we write them down, solutions can easily arise. Journaling can allow you to gain a real understanding of your thoughts and feelings.
Take Time Out
Almost everything will work again if you unplug it – including you. Taking time out is just as productive as working hard and studying more. This doesn’t mean taking long periods off – we understand that’s not always possible. It can mean breaking up your day with incremental breaks, Establishing a positive work/life balance, switching your tech off after 8 pm and having some ‘you’ time scheduled each week.
Taking time out to rest and relax not only helps your body have a break, but it’s also important for your mental health. It can help you process your thoughts, it can give your mind a mental detox and it can help you regain your control again. So, to propel forward your situation, give yourself a break.
Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself
We can all be our own worst critics, can’t we? And as individuals, we can contribute to the existing pressures we already feel. So when you’re having a stressful moment or you’re feeling overwhelmed, remind yourself that you do have a choice. It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Millions of us experience stress every day, take your time – you’re not alone.
Use of CBD products
Sometimes we need a little extra help when it comes to alleviating the symptoms of stress and that’s where Cannabidiol (CBD) can be introduced to your lifestyle. CBD is a natural ingredient used in oils and various other lifestyle products.
CBD has been widely associated with helping relieve symptoms of anxiety, pain, and interrupted sleep patterns. If you’re struggling to unwind after a stressful day or you need help managing your nerves, CBD relaxation products can help. Before you adapt your lifestyle or change anything, always seek professional advice first and choose what works best for you.
Stay Connected
Have you heard the saying, a problem shared is a problem halved? Well, it’s true! Nothing beats having a good support system around you. Make the effort to keep in touch with the people that bring you joy and positively aid your journey. Speak about your worries in confidence to the people you trust – we can assure you, that people are always there to listen. Being open and honest won’t make you look weak, it will only strengthen your connections.
Psychologists and mental health professionals often talk about the importance of having a strong social support network. Relationships are one of the most important aspects of our lives. People who are more socially connected to family and friends are happier with less stress than people who are less well connected.
REMINDER – schedule that FaceTime call and get out for a lunchtime walk!
Maintain a Healthy Balanced Lifestyle
The conscious decisions we choose to make each and every day can have long-term effects. As a result, lots of people reported that they ate unhealthily due to stress. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with daily stressors – fact. Fuel your body with the correct nutrients, stay hydrated and minimise the products that could be making your stress worse – we see you having your third coffee of the day at 10 am!
Keep note of the foods that support your mood regulation and energy levels and try and minimise caffeine. High amounts of caffeine can lead to the negative health effects associated with prolonged elevated levels of cortisol. The temporary “highs” caffeine and sugar provide often end with a crash in mood and energy. But if you need a small boost, coffee in moderation is always welcomed!
The Importance of Managing Stress
Stress is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. If you’re living with high levels of stress for prolonged periods, eventually, your body will scream for help because you’re putting your entire well-being at risk.
Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly, it affects your connection with others and it can affect your ability to unwind and sleep – the basis of healing your body. Long periods of stress can also cause anxiety, depression, menstrual cycle problems and poor digestion.
Remember, everyone is different so what works for you might not work for your colleague or friend. Having a variety of stress relief tools at your disposal, you’ll always be able to pick a strategy that works best for you according to your circumstances. So whether you’re at work, feeling stressed with family life or preparing for an exam – you will be ready to tackle life’s stressors.
Seek Help and Support If You Need It
So, now we’ve covered our best tips for reducing your overall stress. We also think that your overall well-being is important too and there are a few key factors to consider.
From lifestyle changes to more generalised tips that you might not have thought about. Download our FREE Ebook and learn everything you need to know about wellness and the benefits of improving your lifestyle. It’s time to finally prioritise yourself!
Want to learn more about how you can live a happier and healthier life with simple tips? Be sure to follow us on social media and never miss a thing!