How would living a stress-free life be? Unfortunately, that is an unrealistic goal, and you may learn that stress can be useful when moderated. There’s a problem when stress is chronic or uncontrollable. The suggestions given in this article are designed to help you manage your stress and untreated, stress can damage your health.
Prepare tonight, in any way possible, for tomorrow’s tasks and you will feel pleasantly surprised at how much less stress you will feel upon waking in the morning. Every little task adds up to more stress, so even picking out tomorrow’s outfit or making tomorrow’s lunch will ease your stress, and you will also see what it feels like to love yourself more as an added benefit.
Give yourself a positive and empowering affirmation. Saying your affirmation repeatedly can help you let go of the negative, critical voice that lives in all of us and makes stress worse. Remind yourself that you are capable of handling whatever comes your way, that you are calm and in control, or whichever adage brings you the most comfort.
Reduce stress by smelling your favorite aromas. There are a lot of herbs that can have a calming effect when you smell them, try lavender, thyme, rose, peppermint, or sage. Use a small vial to mix a little rock salt with a few drops of your favorite oil. Then, take the top off the vial and inhale.
A professional massage can help reduce stress. When your stress levels start increasing, your muscles become tense. An experienced masseuse will be able to work out much of the stress and tension in your body, leaving you relaxed and rejuvenated.
Writing about your stress can be a powerful strategy to reduce the anxiety of stressful situations. There are problems in everyone’s life that causes anxiety. They may not be things you want to share with other people. Writing out these things for yourself can give you some perspective and meaning. Keep all this information in a diary so whenever you want to know how you handled a previous stressful situation, the helpful information is available.
Drugs and alcohol have been commonly used for centuries by people to try to combat stressful situations. These methods only provide temporary relief for those that use them. Alcohol and drugs though, are not the solution. Far from fixing what’s wrong, drugs and alcohol will just add another layer of complexity to your existing issues.
A life without stress may seem impossible, but it is actually not that far out of your reach. Once you start to focus on the things that are causing you stress, you should be able to figure out what are your biggest triggers and begin to avoid these hot topics.
If one of the things you do when your stressed out is practice unhealthy ways of eating, try to find a better and more healthy way to replace your habit. Try to exercise when you’d usually eat too much, because you’re stressed out. Your body will be stronger, and better able to deal with everyday stress, if you replace your unhealthy coping habits with healthy ones.
Video games can instantly take your attention away from stress. When you are in the midst of game, you can strategize and forget about the stress you are feeling. You can play alone or with someone else in order to better your mood.
Participating in hobbies are wonderful ways to relieve stress. Your mind just lets go and relaxes when you do something that does not involve a deadline. So try knitting, carving, writing, sculpting, or whatever it is you prefer.
Music is good to help you relax. Take the time to listen to your favorite CD’s or carry an mp3 player with you if you want to listen to music while doing something else. You can obtain a mental break from your stressors this way.
Put aside some time in your live to practice meditation techniques. Not only does it relax tense muscles, but it gives your mind a rest. If you can make it a regular practice to meditate, the relaxation and clear mind that you develop will carry into other areas of your life. This will help alleviate your stress even in particularly tense situations.
Smiling is an easy and simple way to reduce your stress. Although feelings of happiness and comfort usually bring on a smile, the link can be reversed – a smile can bring out those feelings. So turn that frown into a smile, and soon you will find yourself in a much better mood. By forcing a smile during stressful situations you will find your body instantly feeling more calm and relaxed.
Practice deliberate and controlled breathing. Taking deep breaths keeps your brain oxygenated, which helps you focus and relax. When stressed, it is common for people to take short breaths that use only the upper part of the lungs. Shallow breathing causes your heart rate to increase and tightens chest muscles, both of which add to the feeling of being stressed.
Surprisingly, getting better organized can reduce stress. A lot of stress comes from forgetting something or from losing something, which causes frustration. By keeping things neat and well-organized, you will have more control of your life. This can significantly reduce stress.
The hard part is determining which techniques will help you as well as putting those techniques into action when you become stressed. But being under stress is precisely the time when it is most difficult to shift your focus. Still, this is what you need to learn to do: take your mind off of the stressful situation and turn instead to techniques that can relieve the symptoms. Consider using some of the tips presented above, as they can help you control your daily stress levels.
