Stress within your comfort zone can help you stay focused, energetic and alert. But when stress gets overwhelming it becomes a threat to your body. It damages the mind while causing physical changes. Panic and anxiety follow with stress. To live healthily you need to manage your stress.
Try these 6 ways to manage your stress
1. Maintain a stress journal
A stress journal can be maintained to write down events which triggered stress. Writing helps you in observing your thoughts and feelings. It is similar to meditation. Your breathing slows down as you concentrate on the words. It allows you to flush out the stressful thoughts in your mind. It breaks the stress-causing cycles within your head.
2. Apply the AAA-technique
Once you identify the situations/events which cause stress, you can apply the AAA-technique. The AAA-technique includes: Avoid, Accept or Adapt.
Avoid: Try to avoid or bypass those situations which cause stress.
Accept: Accept that some things are inevitable and let go of such stressors.
Adapt: Certain stressful situations can be handled if you can bring a slight change in your behaviour. Therefore, adapt to these changes.
3. Spend time with nature
Research shows that spending time with nature reduces stress and eases mental fatigue. Go for a walk to a park nearby or watch the sunrise at a lake. Walking will help you have a healthier body. Have scenic wallpapers and backgrounds of a tranquil waterfall or a beach on your desktop and mobile phones. This will provide a cognitive boost when you’re fatigued.
4. Involve in acts of kindness
Stress as a condition is focused on the ‘self’. You may look over acknowledging other things or people in such an environment. Through this activity, you come out of your bubble and be more mindful of others. This will help you feel better about yourself.
5. Appreciate small things
Gratitude is a key element to happiness. Before going to bed, go through your day mentally and recall the small things that made you happy. Appreciate the little instances which made you smile. Little things like having your favourite breakfast or hugging your child are important for your overall well-being.
6. Have open-mindedness
During stressful situations, try to look for solutions rather than constraints. You should try focusing on finding a way to resolve the issue rather than complaining. This will put you in control of the situation rather than the situation controlling you. The act of taking control of itself goes a long way in reducing stress.
7. Keep a bird’s eye view of life
Look at the larger picture of life. When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question:
This one question can help you have a broad view of your life and thus, help you manage the stress related to it.
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