Few things can adversely affect your life more than stress,
and that’s a bad thing because stress is everywhere. Stress can come from both
good and bad events in life. There’s the obvious stress of losing a job or having
a very tight personal budget, but good events can be just as stressful. When
someone brings home a new baby or finally gets that promotion at work, brand
new expectations and demands bring with them a great deal of stress. Consequences of prolonged periods of stress can be headaches, stomach issues,
and physical fatigue just to mention of a few. If stress is not dealt with
properly it can also lead to burnout or long-term physical impairment. On top
of all of that, handling stress well is one of the primary keys to increasing
your quality of life. So, with that in mind, here are three things that will
help you begin managing your stress more effectively today:
Lots of stress comes from thinking, re-thinking, and
thinking again about the problem at hand. It can feel like a Category 5
hurricane is churning around inside of you. Exerting physical energy can begin
to unlock some of the knots that are forming in your stomach. Head to the gym,
go for a walk or a swim, or see how far you can throw your neighbor’s cat and
still have it land on its feet (word of
caution: this sort of exercise is best attempted when your neighbor is not at
home). Anything that expends energy and possibly creates a bit of sweat
will help!
Get Lost in Something
You Love
I know your day is extremely busy, and I know that you have
73 more things to check off of your to-do list before bed, but making time for
things you enjoy is crucial. In fact, cutting out at least 30 minutes a day to
do something you love will make you more productive when you go back to the 73
things on your to-do list. Read a book, listen to music, head to the museum, or catch
up on your favorite tv show. Your mind and body respond better when you can
turn your internal motor on and off during the day, rather than turning it up to
level 10 when you wake up and grinding it out until you fall into bed exhausted at midnight. Also,
it’s easier to attack a difficult task when you know that later in the day you
are going to get some time off to enjoy yourself.
Change Your
Environment
When you have found that stress has driven you into a rut
and you can’t think clearly, sometimes the best option is a change of scenery.
It doesn’t have to be a dramatic change, sometimes 20 minutes in your favorite
coffee shop or a quick walk around the block will do the trick. You need new
sights, sounds, and smells to snap out you of your rut. Everybody is different, so
play around with different options to see what works best for you!
Stress is an inevitable part of life, but it doesn’t have to
destroy your quality of life. Employing the tips listed above can go a long way into
making the stress in your life manageable, so that you can enjoy this journey
for all it’s worth!
Photo Courtesy of Death To Stock Photo
I can attest to the effectiveness of having a physical outlet. A few years ago, it was my primary stress reliever. I would go to the gym after a stressful day at work and take it out on the treadmill, elliptical, or weights. I did yoga, pilates, hip hop classes (don't judge) and it was straight up life giving. I've sadly drifted away from that by letting life get in the way and it's taken a huge toll on my body and my soul. This post has made me think that next week while I'm on staycation I need to spend some quality time with my gym and work on making amends to the equipment that, no doubt, has missed me terribly.
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