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“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”-Albert Einstein.
Stress has been linked to various health problems, including heart disease and certain cancers. You can’t avoid stress in society unless you decide to drop everything, unplug, and live somewhere remote. There’s nothing wrong with that; I’ve done it from time to time when I needed a reset. But you don’t always have the luxury to get away and reset; however, there are ways to manage your stress levels. You may have heard people say there is good stress and bad stress. Good stress is when you can meet the challenge with your tools and feel a bit of a stretch. You’re able to find the growth opportunity with your good stress. On the contrary, bad stress is when you don’t feel like you have the tools to manage the challenge and your nervous system is in overdrive. The good news is that you can reduce your stress levels by making small changes in your daily life.
Write it out.
The first step is to get a handle on your stress. Try writing down all the things that are stressing you out and then analyzing them one by one. Maybe something doesn’t really matter, like not having enough time in the morning to eat breakfast before work. Once you identify what’s causing your stress, try to find ways around it—like getting up 20 minutes earlier so you can have time for breakfast or packing a sandwich for lunch instead of going out every day.
Write down your worries and fears. This is a great way to get them out of your head and onto paper, where they’re less likely to interfere with your day-to-day life. You can also try to carve out time for some ZenTangle.
Get physical.
One way to do this is by taking part in regular physical activity. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins that can help relieve pain and stress. Exercise also helps blood flow more easily through your arteries, which can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. Physical activity can also help you sleep better at night and improve your mood. In fact, exercise may be just as effective as medication in treating depression and anxiety.
Dedicate time to yourself.
One way to calm down your nervous system is to take time for yourself. You may be overstimulated by your children’s needs, projects at work, or demanding family or partner! You’re not alone! Many women struggle to find time for themselves, and sometimes the only time they have is sitting alone on the toilet.
Take some time throughout the week for yourself when you don’t have to interact with others. This could be taking a 20-minute walk during lunch, sitting at a cafe where no one knows you, or before bed, taking some time to meditate and quiet down your mind.
Takeaway: Stress reduction is a great way to protect your overall physical and mental health!
Want to read more about how to cope with stress when busy? Check out Carissa Weber’s blog (thatdarnamydala): Coping with Stress on the Go.
