Feeling Stressed?
In today’s world it is easy to become overwhelmed with the pressures that face us everyday. Learn how to take quick, simple steps to help curb stress you’re feeling!
Make a List
Sometime it feels like there is so much on our plate that we can never accomplish everything that we want to. With all the thoughts running through our mind, it is hard to think straight! An easy way to break down everything we need to do is by making a list, either on paper or with an app like Wunderlist, which can be used on your computer or phone. Try breaking down your “To-Do’s” into Urgent and Not Urgent. If we focus on the tasks that truly matter it can take a big load off our minds!
Take a Break
In trying to do more, sometimes we actually accomplish less! The latest psychological research tells us that if we break up our work times with times of rest, we are actually more productive. Try doing 50 minutes on, 10 minutes off. And when you take a break, change your activity! Get up and move around, leave the room you have been in. Then when you’ve recharged, come back ready to make positive change!
Learn to Breathe
It is a suprising truth that the way that we breathe impacts our stress levels and how we feel. By engaging in deep breathing, we can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, leaving us calmer and more relaxed. To learn more about deep breathing, check out Belly Breathing here.
Practice Mindfulness
Sometimes it feels like our emotions are getting the better of us – we waste time trying to suppress them or avoid them. However, there is another way. We can learn to accept our emotions, where we are at in our day and in our body, and then move on. The ancient practice of mindfulness has begun gaining popular support in recent years, especially in the areas of psychology and counselling. Learn more about mindfulness here, or check out the Calm App on your phone.
Engage with People
Humans are social creatures, and we crave interactions with those that we love and those who care about us. When we get stressed, a natural reaction is to put our nose to the grindstone and focus on our work. However, this can lead to a decrease in productivity and emotional well-being. To reduce stress, make a conscious effort to involve others in your day. May it be having lunch with an old friend or calling a loved one on a break, little spots of connection can make your day!
Exercise More
When we are stressed it can be easy to put physical activity to the side and focus on the pressing matters at hand. However, this can also be counterproductive, as we miss out on the natural health benefits and hormonal activation that working out provides. Start by going on a walk for 15 minutes during your lunch break, and try to work up to 30 min / day!
Get Enough Sleep
This probably won’t surprise you, but the amount and quality of sleep that you get has a big impact on your mood! Sleeping is the body’s time to rest and repair itself – physically, and mentally as well. If you take the time to ensure you get the rest your body requires, you will notice positive changes, and diminished stress levels. Check out these tips and tricks from the National Sleep Foundation.
Eat Right!
The saying goes “You are what you eat”, and the reality is not far off! The food that we put inside us serves as food to our body and mind. If we make positive choices in our diet, it results in an increase in how we feel, physically and mentally. Eating right can go a long way in reducing stress levels. Small choices, like having a drink of milk instead of a pop, or adding a handful of vegetables to your plate at lunch, is all you need to start on the path to healthy eating. Learn more here.
– By Jadon Ward, MA, CCC