Stress can come in many forms, some of which are quite stealthy and sneak up on you before your even realize. It may be too late by then to take action to defend yourself against stress. What you need now is to focus on relieving the stress that has already hit. Try these tips to see if you can let go of some stress today and remember what peace feels like.
If you procrastinate, you run the risk of increasing your stress levels without even realizing it. Even though most of us agree that we work best under pressure, the opposite is actually true. Are you actually doing your best when doing it at the last minute? The stress of having the extra pressure on your shoulders from the impending duty that you keep putting off automatically increases your stress level. Rather than procrastinating, complete your work as soon as you receive it in order to reduce your stress level.
If you can’t get to the calming beach, imagine you are there. Studies have shown that visualizing calm situations is a great stress reducer in itself. Next time you begin to feel overwhelmed, take five minutes and imagine yourself in a soothing bath, on a sun drenched beach or in a beautiful forest. You may find the stress a little less overwhelming.
One way to lower your stress level may be to spend time with pets. Something as simple as just petting a dog for a couple of minutes will work to reduce your stress, and this has been verified by research.
Many of the people who are living with stress believe that it is perfectly normal. If you feel this way you should start comparing your stress levels to that of people around you. You should quickly see that your stress is much higher and is having detrimental effects on you.
If you’re finding yourself under a lot of stress often, try scheduling your day. If you plan your day out, you won’t have to worry about trying to figure out what do next. Or if you’re already doing this and are still stressed, do the opposite and try and wing it each day. Find the right medium between scheduling and winging it that works for you.
If you are a religious person than you should be in constant prayer as studies show this reduces stress. If you are not religious than you can try out non-religious meditation. This is the concept of meditating or clearing your mind but without doing it for any specific purposes. The results are clear!
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Learn to appreciate what things are worth stressing out over and what things are better to let go. There are so many things that you can’t control. If you have no control over what is going to happen, or the outcome, then there is no point in stressing out about it.
Sleep is a great way to reduce the stress levels in your life. By getting at least eight hours of sleep a day, you are setting yourself up to have a much more productive, and less stressful day. When you are lacking sleep, everything seems to be much more difficult, and therefore, more stressful. Strive to get the maximum amount of sleep each night for more productive, and less stressful days.
A great tip that can help you combat stress is to stop watching the news. Have you ever noticed that the news always focuses on negative events? You might be influenced negatively by the news without even knowing it. Ditching the news can help you keep your stress in check.
In order to reduce stress in your life, avoid bottling up your feelings. Instead, say what is on your mind in a caring and respectful way so that people know how your are feeling. Keeping your feelings to yourself can often lead to resentment and anger, whereas open communication can help you find solutions to even the most complex problems and situations.
If you’re stressed out often, a good way to reduce your stress is to get a pet. Playing with animals is proven to reduce stress and release endorphins in the brain, making you happier and healthier. Cats, dogs, birds, lizards, and any number of other animals can be a great way to de-stress your life.
Stop smoking. Smoking is often a reaction to stress. When stressed people actively seek out chemicals and activities that they perceive as providing relief. Tobacco contains nicotine and it is a powerful addictive chemical. Smoking also keeps your hands occupied, something your mind sometimes pushes you to do when you are stressed.
Some say that all of us are born with a peaceful personality inside. However, stress and other feelings, act like layers upon our calm souls. When you learn stress relief techniques, you are acquiring tools that allow you to let go of these stress layers so they do not accumulate over time and bury your true inner nature.