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9 Stress Management Strategies, Tips, and Activities

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Stress is a regular part of our lives. It's the same for everyone. Although it's quite a normal thing to be stressed, it becomes an abnormality if it persists for a long time. Needless to say, persistent stress can affect your day-to-day life, leaving your entire routine upside down. It does not just affect your professional life, but family life as well. Imagine coming home all stressed after a long and hectic day at work, would you like to sit with family and talk? I'm sure it would be the opposite. You'll either lie down in bed or isolate yourself to watch a season or something, depending on how you prefer spending your time. The question is, how to get rid of everyday life-induced stress? What to do in order to have a peaceful life? Well, it's indeed possible. Following are a few stress-relieving tips and activities that can help along the way:

Exercise 

First and foremost, you need to get back to basics. That's right, guys. Exercise needs to be an integral part of your routine if you want to lead a healthy and happy life. When done regularly, exercise can increase the amount of endorphins in the body. Endorphins are feel-good chemicals responsible for your delighted mood and high energy levels. It is precisely why experts recommend having an active lifestyle. It's a great way to keep stress at bay, and that too, naturally. 

Herbs and Plants 

Yes, you can take an anti-anxiety pill to fight stress, but do you think it's healthy? It certainly isn't. Regular use of allopathic medicines can negatively affect your liver and digestive system. Therefore, it's encouraged to switch to herbs and plants instead. They're all-natural; thus, they're free of side effects. Ashwagandha, Canadian shrooms, THC concentrates, and Passion flowers are pretty beneficial in the treatment of stress and anxiety. 

Decreased Caffeine Intake 

Most people tend to have coffee and tea several times a day. While it may be temporarily relaxing to have a cup of freshly brewed coffee in the morning, post-lunch, and in the evening, it is something that can increase your stress levels. You've heard that right, pals! Caffeine can significantly raise the number of cortisol (a stress hormone) in the body. Although the caffeine tolerance level is different for everyone, it's still recommended not to exceed more than one cup of tea or coffee.

Deep Breathing 

Speaking of stress-busting activities, how can one forget about deep breathing exercises? Whether you feel low, restless, or insanely hyperactive, a few deep breaths can fix them all instantly. It is mainly why deep breathing is recommended by most mental experts, especially in the case of generalized anxiety disorder. It can relax your mind and give you a sigh of relief, something that one desperately needs when stressed or anxious.

Sharing Emotions 

Sharing how you feel can help take off that 10,000 dollar weight on your shoulders. When you talk to a loved one about how you feel and the problems you have, you indeed feel lighter both mentally and physically. Why do you go to a therapist? A psychotherapist doesn't treat you with medicines. They talk, listen, and sort it out with conversations. Thereby, healthy conversations are always encouraged when treating stress and anxiety. 

Journal Writing 

It's not always possible to talk about it with friends and family. Most people feel reluctant to talk about their problems due to the fear of being judged. It is also possible that the person you talk to doesn't understand your problem. Everyone has a different journey; hence, a different set of problems. Therefore, not everyone can relate to your problems. Expecting others to understand everything is somewhat silly. What you can do is write a journal instead. Writing it down can help alleviate the stress. It's like you're giving your worries to the diary and as a result, you feel lighter and stress-free. Talk to your diary about everything, good or bad. It won't judge you for anything. 

Meditation 

One of the best things that you can do to steer clear of stress is meditation. It is generally known as the best alternative to allopathic stress-relieve medicines, given its mental, physical, and spiritual healing powers. Meditation can teach you to live in the moment. As a matter of fact, most of the stress comes from worrying about the past and the future. Once you master the art of living in the moment, half of your issue will be resolved there and then. You'll feel happier, energized, and more relaxed than ever. 

Chewing Gum 

It may seem unusual, but chewing a piece of gum or anything for that matter can help release stress. What happens when you're stressed? You feel jittery, anxious, angry, and low. Isn't that right? When you're chewing gum, you tend to burn energy. That way, it eliminates the negative energies from your body, providing you with the comfort you crave. These behavioral effects of chewing gums are also validated by the Journal of Clinical Translational Research.

Appropriate Sleep 

Last but not least, make sure to sleep properly at night. As mentioned by the Sleep Foundation, you need to sleep for 7-8 hours every night in order to function properly. Henceforth, you must take care of your sleep-wake cycle. Not having enough sleep can activate the stress hormones in your body, while significantly contributing to stress. It can also cause fatigue and body aches, which can disturb your everyday routine. Thus, having an appropriate sleep cycle is mandatory.

The Takeaway 

Winding it up, I want you to know that it isn't something to panic about. Panicking about the situation can make the existing stress worse. Thereby, you must stay calm and accept the situation for what it is. Rest assured, the stress-busting tips and activities mentioned above are sure to help you out. I wish you healing, everyone! 
Categorized into General Health
Tagged in Exercise