10 Tips to Manage Stress &; Reduce It

I believe that we might all benefit from a bit less stress in our lives. There is more than enough stress to go around between regular work stress, maintaining relationships, negotiating social events, and managing the kids. Fortunately, if you put your mind to it, there are strategies to reduce your stress levels.

What Stress Actually Is?

Your body’s reaction to a demand or challenge is stress. Everyone experiences stress, which can be brought on by a variety of situations ranging from little inconveniences to significant life changes like divorce or job loss. Physical symptoms like an increased heart rate and blood pressure, thoughts and ideas about the stressful event, and emotions like dread and rage are all parts of the stress response.

Fight or Flight

Stress, whether sudden or persistent, stimulates the nervous system and releases adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream, two hormones that increase blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels. These modifications trigger the fight-or-flight response in your body (Malaika Stoll). This helped our ancestors escape from saber-toothed tigers and is also useful today when avoiding dangers like car accidents. However, the majority of contemporary chronic stressors, like money problems or a difficult relationship, maintain your body in that heightened state, which is bad for your health.

How can stress be managed in a healthy way?

Stress has an important function in helping us react swiftly to threats and stay safe. Long-term stress exposure, however, may result in increased physical health issues or mental health issues including anxiety and depression as eazyresearchwp (2020) mentioned that overthinking, inner demons, and negative thoughts are possible contributing factors.

1. Enhance your health by what you eat and drink.

Some people turn to excessive eating or drinking in an effort to decompress. Although these acts may appear to reduce stress in the short term, they may fact increase it. Stress effects can be exacerbated by caffeine as well. While eating a balanced, healthy diet might assist in reducing stress.

2. Regular exercise

Exercise has been demonstrated to be a highly effective stress reliever in addition to its positive effects on physical health. Set realistic goals for yourself and think about non-competitive aerobic activity, weightlifting, or movement practices like yoga or Tai Chi. Endorphins are organic chemicals that naturally make you feel better and keep a happy attitude. It has been demonstrated that aerobic activity releases endorphins.

3. Give up using nicotine and tobacco products.

Nicotine is frequently described as a stress reliever by those who use it. However, nicotine actually causes your body to experience more stress since it raises physical arousal while decreasing blood flow and respiration. Smoking won’t help if you have ongoing stress or bodily pains because it might exacerbate chronic pain.

4. Researching and using relaxation techniques

Everyday relaxation helps you manage stress and shield your body from its negative consequences. Deep breathing, guided visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation are just a few of the methods you can use. There are numerous websites and mobile apps that offer instructions on these methods. Many are accessible without cost, however, some do need purchases.

5. Reduce stress-inducing factors

If you’re like most people, you probably have too many obligations and not enough free time. These requirements, for the most part, are the ones we chose. However, you may make more time by using time-management techniques like prioritizing, pacing yourself, defining priorities, and making time for self-care. Also, if you are a student you can hire cheap assignment writers to work on your projects while you sit back and relax.

6. Examine your principles and uphold them.

No matter how hectic your life is, you’ll feel better the more your actions align with your convictions. When selecting your activities, consider your values. Given the demanding obligations and demands we have every day, it’s critical to partake in activities that are consistent with our values and speak to us personally.

7. Be assertive

Saying “no” to requests for your time and energy that will put you under excessive stress is acceptable. You don’t always have to live up to other people’s expectations.

8. Make reasonable expectations and goals

Realizing you can’t be completely successful at everything at once is also acceptable – and good. Consider the things you can influence, and concentrate on accepting the things you can’t.

9. Promote your own interests.

Remember your strengths while you’re feeling overburdened. There are techniques you can use to develop a strong feeling of self-worth.

10. Examine biofeedback.

This behavioural strategy teaches you how to manage stress by monitoring your heart rate, muscle tension, and other vital signs while you try to unwind. It is employed to regain control over specific biological processes that lead to stress and discomfort. You can use biofeedback to help you understand how your body reacts to stress and how to manage with it better. Many people can use biofeedback to end an attack of a headache, such as a migraine, if it starts off gradually.

Ask your healthcare practitioner for further details or any additional recommendations they may have if you’re interested in any of these methods. Counseling can frequently assist you in identifying stress sources that might not even be immediately apparent.

What to do if you’re having sleep issues?

Sleep is frequently compromised when you’re under a lot of stress. You might encounter insomnia due to discomfort, stress from personal worries, or drug adverse effects. Try these suggestions if you’re having trouble falling asleep:

• Create a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same times each day
• Ensure that your surroundings and bed are pleasant. Set up the pillows in a way that allows you to stay in a comfortable position
• Keep your bedroom silent and in the dark
• Keep sleeping in your bedroom to a minimum. Don’t watch TV or work in your bedroom
• Don’t take too many naps during the day. Remember to mix up your exercise with rest breaks at the same time
• Speak to your partner, spouse, or a reliable friend if you are feeling tense or apprehensive. Get your worries out of your head
• Play some soothing music
• Instead of stressing out on your nursing final year thesis try getting Nursing Dissertation help
• Avoid counting on sleeping medicines. When combined with other drugs, they may be hazardous. If alternative non-medication approaches fail, only use them if prescribed by your healthcare professional for a brief period
• If at all feasible, take diuretics (also known as “water pills”) earlier in the day to avoid waking up in the middle of the night to use the restroom
• If you have trouble falling asleep, get up and relax until you are tired. Do not lie in bed obsessing over when you will fall asleep
• Prevent caffeine
• Maintain a regular exercise schedule, but avoid working out two to three hours before bed

References 

Malaika Stoll. 10 Simple Ways to Cope with Stress. https://www.sutterhealth.org/health/mind-body/10-simple-ways-to-cope-with-stress 

eazyresearchwp (2020). How to Make Progress on Your Goals When You Feel Unmotivated?. https://eazyresearch.com/blog/how-to-make-progress-on-your-goals-when-you-feel-unmotivated/