The word “stressed” spelled backwards is “desserts” (which might be an effective stress reliever for some), but there’s nothing sweet about dealing with overbearing and overwhelming stress on a daily basis. Sure, stress is part of life as certain circumstances may be beyond our control, and sometimes stress could even be instrumental to getting things done as you focus better on the task at hand. However, when stress becomes chronic or too intense, there are certain stress management techniques you can follow to deal with tension in a healthy way. Let’s explore how to cope with stress so it doesn’t take over your life.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Getting seven to eight hours of good-quality sleep will certainly help reduce your stress levels. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body won’t be able to tolerate pressure and anxiety as well as it should. The quality of sleep matters a lot, too. So, to get the most out of your snooze time, try to avoid caffeine and excessive amounts of alcohol before going to bed and stay away from all the screens (yes, that means no scrolling through social media). A warm bath, relaxing music, and your favorite book would work nicely instead.
Stay Active
Regular physical activity is a great way to deal with those troublesome stress hormones. Find an exercise you enjoy doing and incorporate it into your daily routine. Walking, running, tennis, dancing, swimming - you choose, possibilities are truly endless! Even 20-30 minutes of physical activity a day will make a big difference and will help you cope with stress better. Also, going back to our previous point: consistent physical exercise will also improve the quality of your sleep.
Divide and Conquer
Our busy and bustling schedules often lead to stress. So, one of the most efficient stress management methods is reassessing your daily tasks and workload and prioritizing activities. Create a day-to-day agenda with the most pressing errands and appointments to avoid feeling overwhelmed and burned out. Also, break down large tasks into smaller, less intimidating assignments to stay motivated and feel more in control. Once you’re able to complete everything on your list without rushing or feeling anxious, your stress levels will also decrease.
hubmee, your go-to smart organizer, will gladly hold your hand through the most tedious and aggravating planning, making your life feel a lot easier.
Lean on Your Friends and Loved Ones
Surrounding yourself with people who make you feel good and can offer emotional support during stressful times is one of the most important stress reduction techniques. So, focus on building strong connections with people that matter to you and avoid people who bring you down or make you feel emotionally drained. Also, just having someone to talk to can distract you from stressful thoughts and help you see things more clearly.
Learn to Say ‘No’
Learning how to calmly and confidently say ‘no’ in both personal and professional settings can be extremely liberating and will prevent additional stress by taking the weight of extra responsibilities or commitments off your shoulders. Saying ‘no’ in certain situations is a great way to establish healthy boundaries and ensure your resources are allocated properly. So next time, before rushing to say ‘yes’, pause for a moment and decide whether you have the emotional capacity and bandwidth for whatever you’re agreeing to.
We hope our little stress management guide will help you live a healthier, happier, worry-free, and relaxed life.
With love, your hubmee family ❤️