Stress – everyone experiences it and handles it in different ways. Sometimes it can be a good thing, almost like a catalyst to force you to get things done. Other times, it can overwhelm us and make us feel like we are frozen, or stuck in time without any idea of which way to go.
According to the Psychological Association, when one feels stressed, the hypothalamus produces adrenaline and cortisol which increase your heart rate and raises your blood pressure, leaving you feeling angry or scared if you can’t calm yourself back down. When this constantly happens over time, it can lead to less sleep, lack of energy, weight gain, and even more serious health conditions.
What people need to realize is they have a choice in how they want to deal with stress. It’s really all about mind over matter. You can choose to be person A who comes to the conclusion that stress is a motivator, rather than thinking like person B who feels totally stagnant in life when faced with debilitating stress. Sure, some things are easier said than done, and not everyone can switch their ways of thinking and immediately see stress as a good thing, so we’ve made things easier for you buy listing below various ways you can handle stress when it comes your way. Don’t forget, stress doesn’t just affect work, it can happen at home, with family or friends, and can even affect your health in the long run. So how can one keep calm and make the best decisions during a stressful time?
1. Have a daily plan – Create a list of what you would like to accomplish for the day. And then when you finish a task, reward yourself in some small, but encouraging way. This way, you can spend time thinking about what needs to get done, and then systematically work on each item on your list for the day. Of course, don’t get stressed out about all that you have to get done, or feel overwhelmed over what you weren’t able to get done. Creating a daily plan is more about organizing your thoughts and becoming more responsible, while giving you direction. It’s not meant to increase your stress.
2. Live in the moment – When you feel that you’re on the verge of a panic attack or are feeling bogged down, find some time to sit and breathe. It might sound silly and almost like a waste of time when you’re already stressed about not having enough time in the day to get things done, but trust me when I say that breathing really helps relieve stress. When you breathe slowly, your heart rate slows down, which then brings your stress levels back down to a calm state. Another great thing to do is exercise. Hitting the gym or going for a run for 30 minutes a day has been scientifically proven to increase the production of endorphins in your body and elevate your mood.
3. Don’t worry – The worst thing one can do when they’re stressed is to spend time worrying about all the “what ifs.” Focus on what needs to get done and figure out how to make that happen. Don’t bother wondering about all the endless possibilities or negative situations that can happen if you mess up. It’s better to have a grasp on what you can control rather than trying to control the outcomes of all the infinite possibilities of a certain stressful situation.
4. Positive over negative – Be confident in what you can bring to the table and what your skills are. Work on knowing yourself well enough to understand that when you make that daily plan in the morning and are tackling each task on your list to lessen your daily stress, or when you are exercising in the morning to release your stress levels, know that you are doing your best. And make sure to reflect on what is positive in your life instead of what is negative. Most likely than not, you are more blessed than you realize, it’s just that the negative things tend to weigh more on your conscience.
5. Forgive yourself – Realize that at the end of the day, you are only human. You are capable of whatever you set your mind to, but everything in life takes time and patience, so allow yourself to have that. Nothing can deter you from your goals or a state of calm more than when you don’t allow yourself some slack when you are already working your hardest. Remember that you are trying your best and know that is more than enough.