Everyone experiences stress at some point in their day, week or year. However, it doesn’t mean you should just have to put up with it. Stress can be quite dangerous when it comes to your health, so knowing how to deal with stress and ease it is important. From exercise to spending time with your loved ones, give a few of these things a go and find out what works for you!
Exercise
One of the best ways to ease stress is through exercise. It can reduce the stress hormones in the body such as adrenaline and it can also encourage the production of endorphins which make us happier. Not only this, but it is the perfect opportunity to distract yourself from whatever is causing stress to clear your mind. Once you have exercised, it is likely everything will be put into perspective and will be much more manageable.
The great thing about exercise is that it is so diverse, so you can tailor your experience to something you enjoy. This could be a solo activity like running or cycling, weight training, fitness classes or team sports. Although many people exercise to stay physically healthy, sometimes the benefits on our mental health are overlooked. So, incorporating exercise into your routine is a great way to make sure that you stay on top of stress and know how to deal with it.
Spend Time With Loved Ones
Some people find that spending time with their loved ones is the best way to ease stress. Whether you feel most comfortable with your friends or family, try to make plans with them in advance so you know you have something to look forward to. No matter how demanding your job is, it is so important to take time out of your schedule to spend time with the people who mean the most to you. Whether this is meeting up for a coffee or a big family meal out, making time for the people you love is a great way to ease your stress.
Meditation
Another brilliant way to ease stress is through meditation. Meditating regularly can help you to take your mind and body to a state of relaxation, to help you to focus your attention and to get rid of any intrusive thoughts which are causing stress. Taking 10 to 15 minutes out of your routine to help you relax and focus on yourself can do wonders for your mental health and ability to deal with stress.
There are so many amazing guided meditation apps available which will talk you through the process and just help you to fully relax if you don’t feel confident to do it yourself just yet. You can also meditate at any point in the day, so it is easy to tailor it to when you usually feel the stress building up. For example, some people feel extremely stressed in the mornings worrying about the day ahead, so you could spend 10 minutes clearing your mind and preparing for the day before it begins.
Alternatively, perhaps stress means you struggle to get to sleep. Rather than watching lots of TV or scrolling on your phone before sleep, try reading for half an hour to help you begin to unwind and then spend 15 minutes straight before you go to sleep completing a meditation session. This will help you to completely relax and your brain is far more likely to switch off, thus helping you to sleep.
Reduce Caffeine Intake
Many of us rely on caffeine throughout the day in order to stay alert, however drinking lots of high caffeine drinks can cause your mood to hit highs and lows, which in the long run can cause a lack of sleep, health issues and stress. There are benefits to drinking caffeine when we are busy, however the important thing is to avoid high doses.
Try to reduce your caffeine intake to 2 caffeinated drinks a day, preferably before 1pm. This will help to keep you going throughout the day without having too much of an impact on your sleep. If you really enjoy a tea or coffee in the late afternoon, try replacing it with a decaf version. This might be tough for the first week or so, but over time your body will get used to it and functioning without caffeine will become increasingly easy.
Other things like fizzy drinks, chocolate and energy drinks can contain a lot of caffeine, so avoiding these in the afternoon would be advised too. Sticking to water or decaf drinks after 1pm should help you to decrease stress! Taking magnesium tablets is a good alternative, as this helps to give you a boost of energy without the caffeine.
Make Times For Things You Enjoy
When we are busy, it can be so easy to forget to make time for things you enjoy. So, when you are planning out your week or month work wise, make sure that you set aside time for the things you love to do. This could be going away with your friends or family once a month for an evening, setting aside time after work to learn a new instrument or finally buying some art supplies and learning to paint.
Try to give yourself at least 2 hours a week that is purely for yourself, to recharge your batteries and to do something you enjoy. This is a great opportunity to try new things that you wouldn’t normally do and don’t apologise for it!
Final Thoughts
Our mental health is so important, so knowing how to ease stress and make time for yourself is essential. Everyone finds different things relaxing, so just make sure that you are incorporating things that are just for you into your routine. In the long run you should notice your stress levels easing significantly. Remember to never apologise for making time for yourself!