Stress is a scary thing. It can make you feel like you’re losing control of your life, and it can take over your body and mind in ways that you wouldn’t expect. While stress affects everyone differently, there are some things that can help with managing the effects of this monster we call life. In this article, I’ll share some techniques that have helped me cope with stress at work, at home, and in my relationships.
Practice deep breathing.
Deep breathing exercises can help you relax and reduce stress. To practice deep breathing, breathe in for a count of four, hold your breath for seven seconds, then breathe out slowly for eight seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 times at any time during the day: while walking around town or sitting at work will do just fine! You can also use music to help you focus on your breath rather than any other distractions around you (it’s OK if there aren’t any).
Learn to meditate.
Meditation is the practice of focusing your mind on one thing, such as your breath or a mantra. It’s a great way to relax, reduce stress and feel more grounded in the present moment. There are many different types of meditation–some involve sitting still while others may involve movement or chanting. You can do it anywhere and at any time; even five minutes spent meditating before bed can have powerful effects on your overall well-being!
The benefits of meditation can be felt immediately: after just one session you’ll notice that you’re calmer, less anxious, and more focused on what’s happening right now instead of worrying about the past or future
Get moving.
Exercise is a great way to manage stress. It releases endorphins, which make you feel good and can help you sleep better. Exercise can also help you lose weight, which will reduce your stress levels even further. Plus, when you’re active, you’ll be more confident in your ability to handle challenges and deal with them in a positive way — meaning less time spent worrying about things that may never happen!
Be grateful for what you have.
One of the most effective ways to practice gratitude is to set aside some time every day and make a list of things you are grateful for. It could be as simple as “I’m grateful for my health” or “I’m grateful that I have food in my refrigerator.” Or, if you want something more personal and intimate, write down the names of people who have been important in your life–those who have cared about you, helped raise you or taught valuable lessons. It could also include things like an accomplishment at work or school that made a difference in someone else’s life (and yours).
Once this list is complete, take some time each day during which there are no distractions such as phone calls or emails coming in (or at least try not to think about them) and read through it while meditating on each item on the list until it feels comfortable enough for its message to sink into your consciousness fully.
Take a break from your smartphone.
Taking a break from your smartphone is a simple way to reduce stress. If you can’t imagine life without it, take these steps:
- Don’t use your phone as an alarm clock. If you rely on the buzz of notifications and chimes from apps like Facebook and Instagram to wake up in the morning, try setting an actual alarm clock instead–and then turn off all notifications except those related to work (and maybe one or two others). That way, when they go off they won’t distract you from whatever else is going on in your life at the moment.
- Don’t check your phone every five minutes just because there’s nothing else interesting going on right now–especially if there are people around who want attention! Instead of constantly checking social media or news sites while waiting for something else (like dinner), try reading a book instead–it’ll do wonders for reducing stress levels too!
- When using apps that require tapping on small buttons over and over again (such as Candy Crush), set up timers so that these activities don’t become too addictive; if possible set them up so that only one game session lasts about 15 minutes maximum before kicking back into standby mode until needed again later on down the road when necessary.”
Engage in hobbies and activities that make you happy.
To find activities that make you happy, take a look at your calendar and see what you have scheduled for the next few weeks. If there are any events or commitments coming up that don’t sound like fun to you, cancel them! You should also prioritize getting together with friends and family members who make time for fun activities together.
If an activity isn’t on your calendar but sounds like something that would bring joy into your life, go ahead and schedule it for the future (even if it’s just tentative). For example: “I’m going to sign up for lessons in piano next week.” Or even better: “I’m going to learn how to play piano this weekend!”
Once these things are out of the way, try new things until something sticks – whether it be yoga classes or hiking trips through nature preserves–and then commit yourself fully so they become part of who YOU are as an individual.
Sleep well at night and get more sunlight during the day.
- Sleep well at night and get more sunlight during the day.
- Get enough rest. A good night’s sleep is essential for good health and wellness, so make sure you are getting enough sleep each night. If you have trouble sleeping, try to eliminate distractions before bedtime (turn off electronic devices) and set a regular time for going to bed each night. You may also benefit from taking naps during the day if it helps you feel rested when it’s time for bed at night.
- Get outside in natural light every day if possible–even when it’s cloudy or rainy! Studies show that exposure to natural sunlight can help improve mood and energy levels while reducing feelings of depression or anxiety; furthermore, increased exposure to vitamin D has been shown to improve bone strength as well as reduce risk factors associated with heart disease and diabetes mellitus type 2.”
Stress can be managed with simple techniques
Stress is a normal response to life events. It can be good for you if you manage it, but if not managed properly, stress can cause health problems. Simple techniques for managing stress include:
- Deep breathing exercises and meditation–these techniques help calm the mind by focusing on one thing at a time (like your breath) instead of worrying about all the things that are stressing you out.
- Exercise–physical activity helps relieve tension and boosts moods by releasing endorphins into your body which make you feel happy! Make sure to get enough sleep too so that when it comes time to exercise again tomorrow morning (or later today), there’s no excuse not to do some exercise!
