Run ragged? Under pressure? Stress is one of the most common afflictions of modern life; all of us feel overwhelmed and anxious at times. Unfortunately, chronic stress often, if not always, results from lifestyle factors. Neglecting to address the signs of stress may lead to a long list of health issues, including heart disease, high blood pressure and mental illness, among others. Reducing your stress levels is key to staying healthy. Here we share some lifestyle advice to improve your stress response and all aspects of your life.
Manage Your Time
Time management is the best stress management technique you can use. There are a number of ways to take control over how you spend your time - from planning ahead and scheduling to blocking out specific times during the day. Having a well-planned day keeps you from being stressed because you know exactly what activities come next after another.
Keep Calm and Carry On
When you're feeling stretched, the first thing to do is take a few deep, diaphragmatic breaths. You could also try meditation or yoga to reduce your anxiety. Often, just taking a few moments alone every day is all you need to reflect on life events. This helps to reduce your heart rate, while allowing your mind to refocus and keep going.
Take Time Out
Along with deep breathing exercises, walking away can work wonders for clearing your head and gaining clarity. You could go for a walk, spend time with people who matter, listen to an uplifting song, get a massage, look at holiday photos or spend time with your pet. Whatever ritual relaxes you, give yourself a well-earned break to indulge and gain a fresh perspective.
Source: verywellmind
Eat Small Portions Regularly
Maintaining a healthy diet is another good lifestyle habit to lower your levels of stress. In addition to providing your body with the nourishment it needs, a balanced diet prevents chronic stress, cardiovascular disease and other health problems. Diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins are considered healthy. Additionally, maintaining regular blood sugar levels is key to keeping your moods and anxiety levels stabilised. To do this, eat small amounts of protein-packed food every few hours. This could be a small handful of nuts, a tin of tuna or an egg.
Stick to an Exercise Routine
Work out for at least 30 minutes every day to release feel-good hormones called endorphins. They reduce stress and pain and promote a positive mood. Furthermore, regular exercise can improve your physical health and increase your energy levels.
Take Healthy Herbs
There are also many herbs you could reach for when feeling under pressure. St John's wort, kava, chamomile, oats and damiana are wonderfully calming. You may also find withania, licorice, Siberian ginseng and rhodiola to reduce your stress levels.
Talk It Out
Too often, we push our problems down, which only increases our stress and anxiety. Chatting about your worries with a friend, family member or counsellor will help you feel heard. Even if they can't solve the situation for you, talking about it can help allay your worries.
Sleep Well
Get an average of 7 to 8 hours of sleep. If you're getting less, your brain won't have the time it needs to recharge and if you're getting more, your brain will think that it doesn't need to recharge again for a while. You can get enough sleep each night by avoiding things that keep you awake or affect your body clock, like drinking coffee after noon, having alcoholic beverages before bedtime, and checking your social media or watching TV late at night.
Following these simple lifestyle habits in your daily life can help you feel more relaxed and relieve some of the effects of stress. It won't matter how much is going on in your life, you won't be overwhelmed by it.
Originally published on Dec 30, 2013
