Four Ways to Beat the Stress Bug

Stress is a natural response to life’s events. Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives and it can be triggered by anything from everyday activities like job and family to major life events like the death of a loved one. Stress can be helpful to your health in the short term as it can assist in dealing with potentially life-threatening situations. Stress causes your body to release hormones that boost your heart and breathing rates while also preparing your muscles to respond.

However, if your stress reaction doesn’t shut down and your stress levels stay high for longer than is essential for survival, it can have a negative impact on your health. 

Practice Self Care and Avoid Unhealthy Habits

To live a healthy, happy life, it is critical to set aside time for yourself. Self-care doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. Maintaining a healthy diet is an important element of self-care. Consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains. Following a nutrient-dense diet and eliminating ultra-processed foods will help your body get the nutrients it needs for optimal health while also lowering your risk of stress-related nutrient shortages.

Stay away from habits that are detrimental to your health. Overeating, smoking, excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol and other illegal substances can all affect your stress levels.  Supplements can be considered as these can aid your body in its ability to cope with stress, both physical and mental. Learn More about Adaptogens that can assist you to find equilibrium in the face of a difficult situation. Dietary supplements may not be suitable or safe for everybody and if you’re interested in trying these to relieve stress, talk to your doctor.

Get Physical

Stress can be relieved by almost any type of physical activity no matter your fitness level. There are several ways to incorporate more physical activity into your life. You could ride your bicycle or walk to the grocery store rather than using the car. Park as far away from the entrance to work as possible and always choose the stairs. Wash your own car, take a walk in your lunch hour, do some gardening, or use housework as a workout. Put on some dance tunes and get your body moving. Yoga is a popular stress reliever that combines physical and mental disciplines that can help you reach body and mind harmony. Getting active can also help you to sleep better and improved sleep also translates to better stress management.

Get Creative

Journaling is another popular tool used in beating the stress bug. It can help you let go of emotions that have been building up inside you. Don’t overthink it – write what comes to mind. You can choose to delete or throw away what you wrote or keep it for later contemplation. 

Listening to or playing music can help you relax by providing a mental distraction, reducing muscle tension, and lowering stress hormones. If music is not your cup of tea, try sketching, painting or even sewing – anything that shifts your focus.

Connect More

Strong social bonds can help you get through difficult times and are beneficial to your general mental health and stress response. It may sound like a cliché, but laughter is the best medicine as it not only makes you feel better (you take in more oxygen when you laugh which strengthens your heart and lungs and helps your body to produce feel-good hormones), but it also deactivates your body’s stress response by elevating your mood. When you’re worried and irritable, your natural reaction may be to withdraw. Instead, build social relationships with your family and friends. Consider donating your time to a charitable organization to benefit yourself while also helping others.

Stress is an unavoidable aspect of life. What counts is how you deal with it. 

Feature Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash