Stress is the catalyst for numerous other illnesses, which means that it’s important to do what you can in order to keep your stress levels down.
Everyday life can cause you stress – but some people are more stressed than others.
While some stress could be good for you, chronic stress is a killer – literally.
It helps to consider what’s causing your stress before you start working on fighting it. Part of your stress relieving plan may be to remove toxic people from your life, change careers, or seek therapy.
By pinpointing the cause, you can better effect a remedy.
How to Overcome Stress
If you’re ready to work on figuring out how to overcome stress in your life, there are many things you can do. Some are small things, and some are major changes. Give the small ones a try unless you need a drastic change, or if you’re suffering from chronic stress.
In the case of chronic stress – talk to your physician to find out if there is some medication that can help you. Also, look into therapy. Talking to someone that is not biased can sometimes be a great help.
1. Drink Tea
There is stress relief tea that you can drink and relax with. Look for ingredients like chamomile, peppermint, cinnamon, and lemongrass. These are all soothing herbs that you can find in tea flavors.
Some tea brands make tea specifically marketed to help you relax, like Celestial Seasonings’ Tension Tamer. Enjoying a warm cup of tea before bed can help you get a better night’s sleep too.
2. Life-Bettering Gadgets
Try adding some stress relief gadgets to your life. Your gadgets don’t have to be electronic – fidget spinners are known to help with relaxation and focus.
Download stress relieving apps on your smartphones or tablets. You can use meditation apps, play games that help you relax (they do exist), or use an app that helps you control your mood.
3. Listen to Music
Music is an amazing thing. It can help you remember things long forgotten, put a smile on your face, and it can help you get to sleep at night (which is extremely stress-relieving). Pick stress relief music that is slow and calming, stuff that helps you feel mellow and happy.
4. Meditate
Meditation is pretty easy to do, and it can be used to lower blood pressure and heart rate, to help fight insomnia, and to assist in relieving stress in general.
You can choose to take a few minutes of silence, just focusing on a relaxing word or thought, or you can listen to a guided meditation that will walk you through the steps to calm.
5. Go for a Walk and Get Some Time in Nature
Spend some time outside, and you’ll find stress relief in nature. Take some time to enjoy the trees, the flowers, and the wildlife. Sit outside and just enjoy the sounds of nature.
Go for a walk. You’ll be amazed at how calming a walk is when you don’t have to hurry anywhere. Walk the streets, go to a park, or take a hike.
6. Exercise
A good cardio workout helps your brain release endorphins that make you feel good. When you feel good, you’re less likely to be stressed.
Any exercise can be good for you, even if it’s low impact. Yoga is an excellent option, as it combines a workout with a bit of meditation.
7. Evaluate Your Life
Take some time to see what is causing your stress. If you’re only stressed at work, it may be time to start considering a career change. Maybe you just need to challenge yourself more, or maybe you need to ask for more help.
If you’re more stressed when you’re at home, take stock of your home life. You may need to make some changes to your relationships (romantic or platonic) or to your living arrangements.
Stress could be coming from your bad habits or even a poor diet as well (what you consume and how you take care of yourself affects your outlook on life, which can affect your stress levels).
Are You Stressed?
Stress can lead to heart issues, and unchecked stress can cause a heart attack or stroke. On a milder note, you could at least be getting tension headaches from your stress. Use the above tips and make your life happier.
How can you tell if you’re stressed? Here are some signs:
- Headaches
- Rapid heartbeat
- Muscle aches and pains
- Stomach issues
- Fatigue
- Susceptible to colds
- Acne
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Lack of libido
- Overeating
- Under-eating
Aside from heart issues, unchecked stress can also lead to depression and thoughts of suicide. If you’re having a few of these symptoms and something has been stressing you out, start taking steps to relieve the stress before it becomes chronic.
How to Avoid Stress
There are things you can do to limit the amount of stress you experience.
Start by making the right choices about the people you let into your life – pick people that are happy and uplifting.
Continue your road to a less stressful life by doing things that make you happy and being grateful for the things you have, even when things seem to be going wrong.
You choose how life events affect you. Choose to not let them get you down.