Whoever you are, however old you are, or whatever profession you’re in, it’s likely that you’re dealing with some kind of stress, especially during the holidays.
While it may be normal, it’s nothing to take lightly, and we’re always trying to find ways to manage the stress in our lives.
The good news is there are dozens of methods to combat it. Here are just three of them.
The obvious:
Exercise
Our bodies’ react to the stress whether we want them to or not, that’s why exercising can be so useful to release that tension. Once you get your blood flowing and your endorphins rushing in, you’ll see the effects for yourself. While some suggest specific workouts such as running and yoga, I think the most important thing to do is to get your body moving.
Choose better food options
While there are societal and personal issues I have with the term, “clean eating”, we can always try our best to focus on what we’re putting inside our bodies. I am not suggesting we change our diets entirely, but taking incremental steps to help us out can have a big impact when it comes to decreasing your stress levels. For example, what I recommend is, instead of cutting out sugar entirely; choose a fruit or vegetable option instead of the processed option.
Sleep
If you’re working out and choosing to eat healthier foods it will most likely have an effect on your sleep. Find out how many hours a night you need for your body to regenerate, and start making an effort to meet that goal.
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Now that we got the obvious out of the way, let’s delve into some other techniques that will help you combat stress.
Ways you can improve it:
Meditate
If you’re not a fan of sitting still, download some apps such as headspace that act as a beginner’s guide to meditation. You might just discover what’s causing you the most stress during a meditation session, and once you figure that out you can confront it head on.
Take a probiotics
If you’re stressed out and you don’t know it, your stomach might tell you. Even if you start eating better food, your body still might not digest properly. This is where adding a probiotic to your diet can help. The healthy bacteria has the possibility of helping with the digestive process, making it one less thing to worry about it.
Music
In the age of streaming, ask yourself, when was the last time you actually sat down and listened to an entire record in one sitting? Music allows us to decompress and let our minds wander off for a brief period of time. Instead of watching T.V. or reading a book when you have just finished a stressful task, try this out and see how it feels.
Play
You can physically play, play a video game, a board game, or a musical instrument. I use the term loosely. Take time to tap into that creative side of your brain throughout the day and you’ll find yourself more relaxed during and after the process.
Journal
Last but not least, take some time to reflect. You can write any time you want, but I prefer to journal in the morning to start off my day, but I have also journaled at night, and whatever time I decide to journal at, it always puts thing in perspective for me and gives me the chance to focus on the things that matter.
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Photo Credits: Gabriel Matula/Unspalsh