How to deal with stress
Modern life is often a case of juggling multiple responsibilities and worries at once. It can be difficult to find the time and headspace to figure out how to deal with the stress- simply read our helpful tips below!
Managing stress
Before we start with ways to handle stress, let's mention what makes stress worse: turning to drinking or smoking. We all need ways to cope, but anything that makes your general wellbeing worse is best avoided. Here are strategies to help you feel less stressed:
Consider your stressors
Step 1 is facing what is causing your stress and looking at ways to change things. If there are several areas of your life causing you to feel low, make a list. Consider what you can do in each instance to try and improve each area. It may be that in some areas you can't do anything yet- for example, maybe money is tight. However, chances are that in some areas there are steps you can take to address the issues or get some support- more on that below.
Access your support network
When you're overloaded and overwhelmed keeping to yourself is the worst thing you can do. Lean on the support of family and friends, and make regular time to see them. Sometimes just meeting a friend for a coffee can be enough to lighten the stress load.
Set a little time a day for you
Self-care has been framed in the media as spending lots of money on beauty products or spa days, but in fact as little as 30 minutes for yourself a day can make a big difference to help you manage stress.
What do you enjoy? What de-stresses you? If you enjoy going to the gym, make a window for that a few times a week. Likewise if you want to curl up with some chocolate and binge your favourite tv show, do that instead!
Use your brain
Stimulating your brain a little every day makes you feel good. Try wordsearches, sudoku, puzzles or learning a new skill. Look into crafts you could have a go at, or new activities.
Practice gratitude
Consider each day what you are grateful for. Doing this can help trigger the brain's happy hormones and offset stress. Your list might include anything from big things like family to little things like sunshine or going for a walk.
Acceptance
One way to approach stress is by trying to accept what you can't change. Life is never perfect, so recognising that and accepting challenges can be helpful. However, there will always be some things that you can change- so look to accept those you can't and make positive steps to change the things you can.
Try meditation
Practised worldwide for centuries, meditation can lower your feelings of stress and help you manage life's difficulties with new resilience. Just a few minutes a day make a surprising difference- try our box breathing meditation here.
Manage your load better
Juggling work, children and responsibilities can be taxing. Get things clear in your head by making lists of what needs to be done- and accept that you won't manage to get it all done in one day. Look for the positives in what you've managed to achieve and let go.
