Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. It is also the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure.
Stress can be very detrimental to your health and cause serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, mental disorders (depression, anxiety), etc. Everyone experiences stress from time to time, but constant stress can affect your overall health.
Long-term stress can harm your health, and coping with the impact of chronic stress can be challenging because, with long-term stress, the body never receives a clear signal to return to normal functioning of the body. If you are living with a high level of stress, you are putting your entire well-being at risk.
It may look like you cannot do anything to avoid stress in your life, maybe because of your work, the bills won’t stop coming, the demanding responsibilities of family, etc. Truth is, you have a lot more to control than you think.
Below, I have listed different ways that can help you overcome and reduce stress;
1.) Regular Exercise
According to research, regular exercise has been proven to help improve your mood, lower symptoms of depression, and helps you to relax well. You need to be consistent in your exercise, so it can pay off.
Focus on setting fitness goals you can meet, so you don’t opt-out easily. There are so many exercises you can engage in such as skipping, jogging, squatting, etc. Physical activities such as exercise can help take your mind off your worries.
In addition to having a direct effect on your stress levels, regular exercise aids optimum health which also improves your overall health by indirectly moderating your stress levels.
2.) Eat Balance Diet Regularly
A healthy well-balanced diet can help counter the impact of stress in your body. According to research, carbohydrates can temporarily increase levels of serotonin, a hormone that boosts mood and reduce stress.
Once serotonin is increased in the body, it can help to relieve you from stress and help improve your concentration level. Your meals should contain more vegetables, proteins, and fruits for energy.
Not eating a proper diet is not good for you, because it can put you in a bad mood, which can increase your stress level.
3.) Take Breaks
You need to take proper breaks from work to give your mind time off from stress. Taking breaks keeps you rejuvenated and also helps to facilitate recovery by returning your functional systems to their baseline.
It is always very refreshing to go away on a break to clear your head and just get into something else. According to research, taking breaks has been proven to play an important role in your mental well-being.
It is very dangerous not to take breaks, especially from work because it will reduce your productivity level. Ensure to make time to unwind during your workday to restore energy and mental resources.
4.) Go On Vacation
You honestly don’t even need to break a bank for this. If you can’t afford to take a trip to Caribbean destinations like Jamaica, Seychelles, Maldives, etc you could simply travel to a city within where you can have a good time and relax.
A study released by an American psychological association concluded that vacations work to reduce stress, by removing people from the activities and environments they associate with stress and anxiety. When you take vacations, you feel calm which allows your body to heal from the accumulation of stress.
5.) Get Adequate Sleep
Lack of adequate sleep can cause higher levels of stress in your life which can have a severe impact on your physical and mental health. According to research, experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep for you to be able to function properly.
Conclusion
There is no benefit when you put yourself through the endless stress cycle day in day out. It can be dangerous to your health and can leave you very unproductive in the long run.
While some stress is normal and unavoidable, probably due to the demanding nature of your job or house chores, most types of stress are often unnecessary and can be avoided.
That’s why it is so important for you to learn how to manage stress, because when you can effectively reduce stress in your life, you gain back the control to be creative, focused, and resourceful.
