You feel overstressed, overly anxious, and emotionally drained all the time…
Your responsibilities never stop piling up. Balancing between having a social life, making time for your family, paying attention to your partner, working, taking care of the household, and practicing self-care(if you have any time left from everything else) often seems impossible to achieve.
Does this scenario ring a bell?
If you find yourself within those words, you are possibly in desperate need of a strategy to cope with all the emotional weight you are constantly struggling with.
Here are 5 ways to control your stress levels:
1. Make time for what brings you peace.
What is the activity that helps you calm down? It could be listening to a song that reminds you of a cherished memory, going for a walk in the nearby park, or reading a few pages from your favorite book. Taking an afternoon nap is also a great option. When dealing with high levels of stress and anxiety, making time for practicing activities that ease your mind is essential for your mental health.
2. Relax through exercising.
It has been scientifically proven that physical exercise makes your body release endorphins, also known as happy hormones. They help your brain and your body relax and give you a sensation of calmness and bliss. So, whenever you feel like you need to blow up some steam, hitting the gym may be just what you need. And if this idea doesn’t really float your boat, try joining a dance class or practicing a sport you enjoy. Just get moving.
3. Stop overflowing your schedule.
Having no free time from all the tasks, chores, and all other kinds of responsibilities you have is undeniably a massive stress factor. If you find this relatable, you may need to simplify your agenda. Try re-evaluating the priority of your daily tasks and see where you can leave room for some relaxation. In case all of the things you have planned on doing are urgent, at least make a few short breaks in-between.
4. Take meditation seriously.
If you are still skeptical about meditation, you may need to read more about its numerous benefits for your mental health. Not only does it alleviate stress and help you control your anxiety, but it also keeps your mind sharp and increases your self-awareness. Moreover, meditation promotes happiness and boosts creativity, which does wonders to your overstressed mind. If you don’t have enough time, there are plenty of one-minute breathing exercises you can easily implement in your busy schedule.
5. Choose natural stress-relief methods.
Undoubtedly, there are plenty of medications that are designed to help you battle depression, anxiety, and stress. However, choosing this option may lead to developing an addiction, which hides far too many dangers for your well-being. To avoid that, you should consider going for more natural ways of relieving emotional tension. For instance, drinking green tea increases your serotonin levels, and, therefore, lowers anxiety levels. Lighting a scented candle near you is also a great method to reduce stress. Some of the most calming scents are lavender, camomile, rose, sandalwood, and orange blossom.
Of course, cannabis also counts as a natural stress reliever. According to a 2017 survey, 37% of marijuana smokers said they use the herb to combat stress. Meanwhile, 19% said they do it to relieve pain.
To overcome stress, you don’t need to make drastic life-changing moves. All it takes is adopting a few simple habits.
How do you cope with stress? What’s your favorite way to relax? Let us know in the comment section!
