Stress… what is stress. It comes in all forms, and most of the time, it’s slowly creeping up on you. To be honest, no one really plans on being stressed. We all try to start our days right, live healthy, and simply live the best life we can. But this is not always so easy. Stressful jobs, the constant need to do bigger, greater things, and a busy life at home, barely allows any time to just chill out.
So STRESS, what is stress ???? It’s our body’s way to respond to certain situations, demanding situations. It’s not necessarily always connected to bad stimuli, but when you’re stressed you can definitely feel your muscles tensing up, and your breath, as well as your heart rate getting faster. It’s almost like your body takes over. This is okay, as long as it doesn’t happen too often because that can quickly lead to burnout.
So how can we avoid STRESS taking over, and just enjoy what we have?
+ Focus on the positive
Stress is part of our lives and we cannot 100% eliminate stress. It plays its vital role, and it should not necessarily be viewed as just a bad thing. Of course, too much stress can have detrimental effects on our bodies, but as long as we keep it in check, we should also focus on the positive effects of stress. It is the driving force that challenges us and helps us grow and develop.
+ Learn to say ‘no’
As a good friend, partner, child, or parent you want to do right by the people you care about. That’s completely fine, and should be that way. When you feel like things are getting over your head, you should consider taking it slower, and also sometimes say no to certain things. Don’t be rude, just explain your situation, and the real ones will understand.
+ The power of a good breath
Breathing techniques and their effects on our bodies are often underestimated. I didn’t really believe in it either until I got my first Apple Watch which had that breathing app installed. I was going through a difficult time back then, so I thought, let’s give it a try. I was surprised how relieved I felt after each time I have completed that 1 minute of deep breathing. If you’re interested in easy breathing exercises, here’s a good reference.
+ Stop overanalyzing life and situations that have not happened
When we get caught up in stress, we might as well go all in. That’s when we start thinking about the what-if worst-case scenarios. Living your life like this will only add to your stress and not make it go away. So instead of dwelling on things you know nothing about and cannot change, you might as well bring your head right back into the present and enjoy what you have, here, and now. Now is not forever and is never going to come back.
+ Let go of grudges and anger
Well, when bad things happen we get angry and some things are not always easy to forget. You get reminded of something and that whole wave of negative emotion just washes away the all positivity of the potentially beautiful moment you’re in. Here’s the thing, holding grudges and being stuck in that state of anger will not hurt anyone but yourself. It’s not only hurting you but slowly eating away your happiness and mental health. Don’t let that happen. Be angry once, and then try to let go and look forward. For me personally, this was really hard to learn, but once to accept things, the horizon gets brighter.
+ Focus on what you have
So many times I catch myself worrying about insignificant things that I have no control over, instead of being present and putting all my focus on the things that are right in front of me. It is important to remind yourself every day to see the good in what you have and stop wasting time on the things you don’t.
+ Be active
My number one stress killer is exercise. When you exercise you will automatically lift your mood by the release of endorphins. Go outside, get your dose of fresh air, and start sweating. My favorite stress release exercise is running. I can do it alone and listen to music, or I can take my girls with me. I see it as a form of therapy. I can let go of everything that holds me back and release some of the stress that is trapped in my body. If you wanna know what other benefits a daily run can have, read this.