Are you stressed? I know I am. We have stress every day in many ways, but not many of us know or are taught how to deal with it. Heck, many of us don’t even realize when we are stressed. Our genetic history can also have a lot to do with it believe it or not. Thanks, biological dad you really passed on the stress gene.
Stress is a killer on your body and mind. If you want a healthy body and mind then it is up to you to start the process. This isn’t gonna be candy-coated conversation. It’s gonna be work. So, let’s get to work on helping ourselves manage our stresses. Yes, I am talking to you!
Top 6 Ways To Deal With Stress
(no magical order)
- Take care of yourself. Develop, refine, or rewrite your habits on how you look after yourself. Get good rest. Eat good foods (this one is tough for me). Exercise, exercise, exercise. Take vacations or staycations.
- Stop watching the news. For real, it’s just toxic. Yes, I know there are lots of things going on in the world that aren’t good, but do we need to have constant updates every hour on the hour? Nope, we sure don’t. What you hear and what you see can really take a toll on you. Another toxic source is social media. Wish we could get back to the cute puppy dogs and beautiful car stuff.
- Talk about it. Find others that you connect with. Whether it’s family, therapy, friends, Bob at the corner store, or whatever. Get the best sources you can. When we bottle things up and think that we are invincible that’s when things can overflow. If that happens you may end up on the news and not in a good way. Get it?!
- Avoid drugs and alcohol. This stuff is just bad overall and will have a lasting effect on your wellness. If you are stressed and you turn to these you may never turn back. Hey, if you’re cookin’ dinner and socializing with your tribe, a nice glass of wine from Spain may be a good way to unwind, but in moderation.
- Learn to recognize the signs. Everyone deals with stress differently, so learn more about yourself. What things make you tense and uneasy? The more you know how to recognize when you’re stressed the better you will be in the long run.
- Control the controllables. When you are able to handle the controllables then that is one step forward in the right direction. If there are things that you truly can’t control you are going to have to get creative on how you navigate life. Remember, your mental health and well-being is at stake. Ongoing stress will take time off of your life. You will end up looking like you are 70 at 30. Could you then imagine what you would look like at 70??!
Conclusion
These are some things you can do to help you manage the stresses of everyday life. It’s not a one size fits all. The process will take years if you don’t have your act together. For real, get started now. Each day you learn more about yourself and your world the better you will be in the long run. Where there is a problem, there is a solution. We just need to figure the stuff out. Good luck! We are here for you.
Question
What would you add to this list? What has worked or is working for you? If you share with others they may be able to learn more.
