Stress isn’t something you should just have to deal with. Stress is serious, and it can have very harmful effects on your health and happiness. Stress can happen at any age, but it becomes more of a problem the older we get. Knowing how maximize your relaxation can help you get those stress level down to a minimum. Below you will find a list of tips that will help you stop stress in the moment and in the long term.
Tips For Dealing With Stress
Avoid extra caffeine. Sure we all need our coffee in the morning, but did you know that stimulants like caffeine can increase your stress level. Maybe you’re feeling extra tired in the morning and think that the extra cup will pick you up. Skip it, because it will make you more stressed out later in the day.
Instead of all that coffee throughout the day, maybe try drinking more water. If you need something more exciting try herbal teas or diluted fruit juices. These options will take the stress caused by caffeine out of your life and bring in a ton of hydration. Being properly hydrated will will help your body cope better with stress!
Get Active! Our bodies use stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol when our “fight or flight” system is active, but, unfortunately, nowadays we don’t get enough physical exercise to manage those hormones. Hormones can really affect your overall mood. Getting active will help metabolize those excess stress hormones and bring you back to a state of calm.
You don’t have to go to the gym, everything helps. Maybe take a relaxing walk through the park or neighborhood. Getting active doesn’t mean overdoing it!
Use relaxation techniques. Take time to breathe throughout the day. One of the best tips I ever got for stress relief was to relax my shoulders. Do it right now, doesn’t that feel good? We carry our stress in a physical way, and we don’t even realize the toll it takes on our bodies. Some other tips: try meditation, create a self-affirming mantra, get a massage, etc.
You don’t realize how much taking some time to yourself will help.
Get Plenty of Sleep! Adults are meant to get around seven to nine hours of sleep, but according to a report from Gallup, almost half of American adults are getting less than seven hours. Here’s the problem, we are stressed because we don’t get enough sleep, and because we’re stressed we lay awake with thoughts preventing us from falling asleep. It’s a catch-22, but you can beat it.
If you incorporate the some of the tips from above you won’t have to rely on medication. Ensure that you haven’t had any caffeine near bedtime and try to get enough exercise throughout the day. Make a routine. One of the most important things you can do is make your bedroom a tranquil place. Sure, watching TV in bed is one of the finer things in life, but turning off the screen and dedicating your bedroom to sleep will train your body to know when you go there it’s time to rest.
Manage your time. A routine isn’t just important for nighttime; a daily routine will help you keep track of everything you need to do. Sometimes we get overwhelmed by everything we have to do, but a priority list will help you focus on one thing a time. Trying to take on everything at once is far too stressful. Schedule as much as you can, a schedule will take out the guesswork of your day. Of course leave time for spontaneity, but try to make your workflow streamlined. You will thank yourself.
Remember These Tips
Don’t forget to limit your caffeine, get active, get plenty of rest, try your best to relax, and make a routine. With these tips you can start to kick stress out of your life in no time, but if nothing seems to be working you could have a hormone imbalance. If you’re running out of options and the stress is getting to be too much, please contact us for a consultation!
