Stress is without a doubt one of today’s most serious issues. It has been linked to a variety of illnesses, so it is critical to find ways to manage stress. Here are 7 tips on how to beat stress.
What is stress?
Any shift that causes physical, emotional or mental strain is referred to as stress. Stress is your body’s reaction to anything that demands your attention or action.
Having said that, we can say that stress is a normal reaction. It definitely occurs to everyone. In fact, it is how the normal body is designed. That is to experience and respond to stress.
Fight or flight
Consequently, a stressful event can cause the heart to pound and the breathing to quicken. Muscles tense, and beads of sweat appear on the skin.
This combination of stress reactions is also known as the “fight-or-flight” response. Most certainly, it is an evolved survival instinct that allows you to react quickly to life-threatening situations.
This is the main role of stress in humans. The heightened awareness of your surrounding during difficult or dangerous situations allows you to act quickly in order to survive.
Is stress positive or negative?
In the short term, yes, stress is indeed a positive response. Because the hormonal changes in the body allow you to cope. In addition, these stress hormones signal you to take action.
Prolonged stress, on the other hand, is harmful to your health. When stress hormones are elevated for an extended period of time, the body goes through a series of negative changes. Long-term stress can suppress the immune system, allowing disease to develop.
What causes stress?
It’s common knowledge that we all deal with stress. But we may not stress the same things or situations.
Something that stresses you out may not bother someone else. In fact, they may even enjoy it. That being said, what causes stress is mainly determined by how you interpret it.
Some of the common aspects in your life that can cause you to feel stressed are likely to include:
- Significant life changes
- Difficulties at work or school
- Relationship issues
- Financial concerns, or
- Being overworked
Even character traits can cause stress in your life. Some of these harmful behaviors are the following:
- Pessimism
- Reluctance to change
- Uncompromising attitude
- Negative self-talk
- Perfectionism
Can stress be avoided?
Stress is a natural reaction, and some sources of stress are unavoidable. Some factors that are inescapable include illness, the death of a loved one, or a slow economy. As a result, it is only through acceptance that you can deal with these certain stress factors.
Having said that, there are steps you can take to address and manage stress.
7 Tips to beat stress
Here are some tips you can use to beat stress.
Take some time off
Working strenuously can get you stressed faster than anything else. Your productivity will suffer and burn-out will definitely follow. That is why taking even just one day off from work is crucial.
Taking some time off from the demands of daily life allows you to return refreshed and clear-headed.
Other advantages of taking a day or two away from your current situation include:
- Mental Clarity– working too hard will lead to a foggy brain. By taking some time off, you can restore the clarity that is required for better decision-making and of course, productivity.
- Improved Productivity– as earlier mentioned, one day away from the office or work allows for improved productivity. Because you come back refreshed and raring to get work done.
- Balanced life– stepping away from your grueling schedule allows you to focus some attention on things you actually love to do.
- Improved Focus– a short vacation is sufficient to clear the mind. And having a clear mind allows you to make rational decisions in difficult situations. As a result, you will focus more on the tasks at hand.
- Improved Relationships– of course, what is a short vacation without your family? Spending one whole day with family or friends strengthens the connection. This alone should compel you to take a leave.
Allow some peace and quiet
If a full day off is not possible, why not a few minutes each day to slow down? Sit in silence and enjoy some peace and quiet.
Allowing yourself some quiet time can help calm the body and mind. A few minutes of solitude will do wonders for the brain. It gives time for the mind to refocus and recover from the noise and chatter of the day.
One good example to have some quiet time is to find a place where you can meditate. For the most part, meditation can provide you with serenity. And also balance.
If meditation does not appeal to you, why not try visualization? Or read a few pages from your favorite book? Can you take a few minutes for a leisurely walk? These are just a few ideas for incorporating some peace and quiet into your day.
Start a journal
Taking a few minutes to jot down everything in your mind is a gratifying activity. This may also be called a “brain dump.” It is one way of clearing your mind.
When compared to an agitated mind, a clear and relaxed mind generates more ideas and solutions to problems.
Aside from clarity, writing down your thoughts also promote mindfulness. Additionally, by journaling your thoughts, you are also recording ideas and solutions for further action.
Journaling also improves memory. The act of writing things down will have a stronger connection with the information you have learned. This link will make future recall much easier.
Accept change
Change, as they say, is the only constant thing in life. It is therefore wise to accept change as it happens and refrain from fighting it. This acceptance will certainly benefit both your body and mind.
Remember that every change is an opportunity to grow. And you can always find something positive even in the most difficult of circumstances.
As often said, change does not cause the problem. It’s how you deal with change that causes the problem. So, to keep things in perspective, you may seek wisdom from the prayer of serenity, which goes:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Do some chores
Yep, you got that right. Whether you believe it or not, it is oddly satisfying to get chores done. And it’s this satisfaction that keeps stress at bay.
If it helps, this stress buster is actually backed up by Kärcher research. According to the research, 6 out of 10 of the 2,000 adults polled immediately felt calmer and less stressed because of a clean and tidy house.
The result also revealed that washing dishes, vacuuming, and doing the laundry are the most common stress-relieving chores.
So, anytime you feel stressed out, go wash the dishes. It will do you good, promise.
Self-care
Loving yourself and taking care of yourself will benefit you physically and mentally. Taking care of yourself is not a bad thing.
To further expound, a few hours of pampering yourself improves your happiness and health. In this improved version, you can then proceed to support, inspire, and take care of others.
This quote from Emily Maroutian says it best:
“If you want to have enough to give to others, you will need to take care of yourself first. A tree that refuses water and sunlight for itself can’t bear fruit for others.”
Social connection
Building strong relationships with family, friends, and others will also help you tremendously against stress. In addition, having social connections help regulate your emotions. Also, it increases your self-esteem, empathy, and even enhances your immune system.
Nurture your relationships with the people around you. By doing this, you will benefit from the positive feedback loop of social, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
There are three types of relationships you can have with people. These are:
- Intimate relationships- relationships with family and friends who love and care for you.
- Relational connections – with people you see on a regular basis and have a common interest with, such as coworkers or peers.
- Collective connections – with people who share a group membership or affiliation with you, such as people who share your faith or beliefs.
To summarize
Although stress is an unavoidable part of our lives, there are several ways to combat it. Some of the most effective methods are as follows:
- Take some time off
- Allow some peace and quiet
- Start a journal
- Accept that change is constant
- Do some chores
- Self-care, and
- Connect with others
Do you have other suggestions to combat stress? Please share them in the comments below.
Outside links
Cleaning is the best way to beat stress
Stress symptoms, signs, and causes
