Stress, we know it’s terrible and that it can cause real visible physical symptoms, emotional symptoms and cognitive symptoms including; unhappiness, changes in mood, loss of sleep, not eating, headaches, soreness, difficulty concentrating, and worrying. Therefore, here are 5 necessary habits to develop to eliminate your stress.
Self-care tips
With that being said, tip number one is to enjoy what you do! Yes, we all have responsibilities that we can’t dismiss, but when it comes to making changes for your wellbeing. So change careers, move away, do what you need to do for you. Stress often stems from unhappiness. If you find yourself always drained and cranky after a day at work, maybe it’s not the right place for you. I’m not saying that you should go quit your job right now but start looking into other job prospects or even the idea of going back to school. You spend most of the year at this job, if all you are doing is waiting for the weekend, you’re not really living your life. It’s not worth all that time and effort.
If you have a stressful career that causes these symptoms, go for that career change. You don’t need your job to be responsible for current and future health problems. It’s not worth it. We should all try to reach our ideal jobs, a position that makes you happy when you wake up that you feel challenged yet excited. The type of job that is worth being exhausted at the end of the day or a job that barely feels like a job.
Tip number two, practice self-care, I know this is now a buzz word, but it’s nothing new. We take care of our physical wellbeing, so it makes sense to take care of your mental wellbeing?
Self-care includes everything that you can do to help yourself.
Studies show that frequent exercise can significantly reduce stress levels. It produces endorphin, and endorphins make you happy ( insert legally blonde reference). Not only is there a chemical reaction in your brain that will make you happy, but also, exercise is a great way to distract yourself from your stressful situations, or you can let out your anger and frustration. Whichever works best for you. So go to the gym, or if you hate the gym, play a sport, dance. There are so many options out there; it’s not just about going for a run or lifting weights.
You can read a book, go for a trail walk, take a bath, go for a spa day, meditate, workout, or journal. Find something that is calming and relaxing. Disconnect from the internet, social media, and take some “me” time.
If you find yourself overly stressed, my tip number three is to breath. A breathing technique that I use is 7-7-7. Breath in for 7 seconds, hold it for 7, then exhale for another 7. If you go through the progression twice, you will feel a bit more relaxed. It helps clear your mind and drop your heart rate.
There are dozens of wonderful apps for guided meditation, my favourite is “calm.” You can choose between a variety of sessions based on what you are feeling.
Tip number four is to face the issues head-on, what is it that’s bothering you? Is there something specific that’s been on your mind? Figure out what it is, and get it over with. If you want to eliminate your stress, don’t procrastinate; your stress levels will only increase. If it’s something that you can deal with, just get it done. Perhaps, it’s a problem that is out of your control, remind yourself that. If it’s something that cannot be solved at 3 am, force yourself to sleep.
Sometimes, it’s good to just let it out. Tip number five is to talk to someone. It can be a family member, significant other, a friend, or a therapist. Depending on the situation, you may find it best to see a professional as they can give you advice, and it can relieve some of the expectations on our loved ones.
I hope these tips help you eliminate your stress! For more tips on developing your self-confidence and to learn more about stress .
