Managing stress is not an easy task. One of the main reasons that this is the case is because we don’t talk about it enough, meaning that people have no clue how they are supposed to cope. This is not to say that if you have been managing on your own for a while that you’re not doing an amazing job because you are, but others might need a little more help and support.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the ways that you can manage stress, even though it’s not going to be easy. Keep reading if you would like to find out more.
Learn Some Breathing Techniques
We’re going to start by looking at some breathing techniques. Do you have any idea how to breathe so that you calm your heart rate and help your body to regain control? When stress takes over, your cortisol levels shoot up through the roof, and this triggers what is known as the fight or flight reflex. The thing is that this is not helpful at the time, as you are not actually in any danger and as such you need to work out how you can calm down.
The simplest solution is breathing. If you take deep breaths in and out, in through your nose and out through your mouth, you should find that you start to calm. Doing this forces your body to calm down and slow down, bringing the inner peace back to you, and helping you to regain control of yourself. It’s easy to lose yourself to stress, but you’ve got to get yourself back.
There are other breathing techniques that you can try, and we recommend looking them up and putting them into practice when they are needed.
Understand Your Stress Triggers
Another helpful thing that you can do to manage your stress is understand what your stress triggers are. Some people might think that this sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo, but that is part of the problem. You will find that the more that you understand the things that are stressing you, the easier it is to avoid them. Or, at the very least, to prepare yourself for the fact that you are going to encounter them and prepare yourself accordingly.
Make a list of all of your stress triggers when you notice them. Now, only include things that you know are stress triggers for sure and that cause you high levels. A little bit of stress doesn’t count here, we need to focus on the main stressors in your life so that you can get a handle on them.
Step Back From High Stress Situations
If you are often finding yourself in high stress situations then you need to change this. It might be work related or home life related, no matter where it comes from there will be help available for you. You might be a key person in your place of work, incharge of not only projects but people as well. If this is the case then try to delegate some of your workload to other people around you. You don’t have to do it all yourself, although you will certainly try before you give up.
Around the house, if you are a housewife or house husband then don’t be afraid to ask for help. If there is another pair of hands available then why should you do it all yourself, even if your spouse works full time. They can still help you with tasks like loading the dishwasher or throwing some washing in.
Take Up A New Hobby
A fantastic way to manage stress is to distract yourself with a hobby. The world of possibilities is endless here and it all comes down to finding something you enjoy doing. Everyone you speak to will more than likely have a different hobby, some might sing in a choir while others use their spare time to read books. Whatever you do, if you enjoy it, it will reduce your stress.
Have you ever considered gaming? This can be online or offline, even with people in your local community! If you like to be alone and train your brain then a wordgame like wordle could be your best friend. Word games and number puzzles will always be a wonderful way to pass the time, distract yourself, and exercise your grey matter.
Anything and everything can be a hobby, even exercise. If you love nothing more than going for a run around your local neighborhood or swimming numerous lengths of that pool then go for it. You are relieving your stress while doing wonderful things to your mind and body.
Get Outside Into Nature More Often
Finally, there is one thing that has been known to naturally lower stress levels. The great outdoors is nature’s medicine, and you only need to be out there for ten minutes to notice the difference. Being outdoors, while it can seem impossible sometimes, is a free way to take charge of your stress. Find a quiet local park or other green space and sit there for a while, don’t think about anything and just listen to the sounds of nature and the world.
If you love being outdoors, then there are also hobbies that can take you outside and keep you there for a long while. Birdwatching or cycling are two great examples of these. Get out into your garden if you don’t fancy facing the big wide world. This can bring you so much joy and peace, watch the weight being lifted off your shoulders. If you don’t have anywhere to sit and enjoy your garden then you can change this, invest in some good quality furniture so you can enjoy it day or night.
We do hope you found this helpful and it gave you some ideas and tips on how to manage your stress levels. Stress can quite easily sneak up on you so you need to be prepared for it at all times. It has been nicknamed the silent killer and there is a good reason for this, not only can it impact your mental health but it can also affect your physical health too.
