Stress is the main cause of not only emotional breakdown but physiological problems as well. Your body is the best lie detector there is and even if you think you’re doing fine, stress will be shown through physical signs. You might be always run down, your skin might break out, or you could just suffer general fatigue. These are all common symptoms of stress and it can even cause more serious medical problems. Coping with stress can be even more difficult as we get older and with more responsibilities and challenges that come with every day. As life throws you curveballs learn how to strike back with these strategies to tackle stress once and for all.
Take a break
In order to recover from stress your body and mind will need to rest. Get some sleep, take some time off work or find new ways to relax. It’s important to keep your sleep routine healthy and stress can keep you up all night. It is also said that a change is as good as a rest and maybe what you need is to think about what changes you could make in order to feel more happy and fulfilled. If you’re not quite ready to make any big changes a holiday could be a great way to cheer yourself up and get away from it all. If you’re strapped for cash even a day out in the countryside, or a road trip to a nearby city could be greatly beneficial.
Exercise
Where getting in a little R n R is important, making sure you keep active can be just as vital to reduce your stress levels. Make sure to fit in cardio at least three times a week, this means a brisk walk or jog for example for at least thirty minutes. Try other sports and activities such as dancing or yoga. A new hobby will always be great for your morale, and will distract you from the world of work.
Spend time with family and friends
Ensure that you put aside an afternoon every so often to make quality time with your loved ones. This might be a date night, or family time, or visiting friends who live out of town. Always keep in touch with the people closest to you, this will give you life satisfaction. Relationships are vital to your happiness, so cherish them. Talking to someone you trust about your problems as well can put things into perspective. Seek out a friend or family member who you know to be a good listener who perhaps has been through the same things that you are now. Sharing experiences will help you to understand that what you’re going through is normal.
Take control
Get better at your time management and organisation. Plan your routine better and learn to prioritise. Don’t take on too much and try to set yourself smaller step by step goals. Try using google calendar or making yourself a timetable.
Keep a diary
Keep a stress diary. Write down your thoughts and what has made you feel stressed, this will also help you if you decide to see someone to talk about your stress. You can even do this in the form of a spider diagram and brainstorm your ideas on solutions to relieve your stress.
Mantra and meditation
This can be written by yourself or by a self-help advisor. You can find video tutorials for meditation techniques online. These can be from light breathing exercises to yoga and other forms of relaxation activities.
Aromatherapy
Whether you go for scented candles, burning oils or incense, these will go very well with the previous technique. Certain aromas are more relaxing for example, lavender, sage, rosemary, frankincense and peppermint. Adding scented oils to a warm bath is a nice way to relax after a long working day or even get a perfumed spray for your pillow to help you sleep.
CBD oil and benefits
If you’re looking for another natural remedy to relieve stress why not Buy CBD oil. There are many proven benefits such as helping to prevent insomnia and anxiety and it’s also effective as pain relief. Medical issues can offer occur with stress such as aches, migraines and increased heart-rate, and this can help to reduce these.
CBD doesn’t just come as oil but in many different products like tinctures, sprays, rubs, and even CBD-infused gummies. If you want to try the tasty edible option, the article here from Newsweek lists five great options for you to choose from. By law, all CBD products cannot contain more than 0.3% THC, which means you can have help to relax without experiencing any psychoactive effects.
Vitamin supplements
Certain supplements can also help to reduce stress such as omega 3, green tea and ashwagandha. These things can be provided by a local herbalist or if not are found in most larger supermarkets.
Things to avoid
Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine are best avoided if you’re trying to reduce your stress levels. The effects of alcohol in small doses are masked as a stimulant but it is in fact, a depressant. The effect in the long run will have you feeling more run down and depressed. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants but they can be quite addictive and cause a higher heart rate.
Certain foods are not advisable if you’re stressed. Refined sugars and sweeteners are not recommended so cut out desserts and pastries, flavoured yoghurts and soda. Try to replace them with fruit or nuts to snack on. Keep your protein intake high as this well give you a more steady release of energy. For other healthier options click here for recipes to reduce stress.
Saying “no”
Don’t be afraid of this word and don’t let anyone put pressure on you to do things you don’t want to. You aren’t obliged to do anything so stay in charge and don’t worry so much about letting people down, your health is more important.
Animals
It’s been proven that petting or spending time with animals can be a great mood booster. If you don’t have pets, take your neighbour’s dog for a walk or go to visit a local petting zoo.
Hugs
Cuddles, kisses and sex can give you an instant endorphin release and sense of relaxation afterwards. If you’re lucky enough to have someone in your life shower them with affection and you will receive it in return. Don’t go through this alone.
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