Being stressed is a normal part of life. That said, there’s no reason that stress should be allowed to run rampant in our lives. With determination and effort, you can make stress a minor component, rather than a major component of your day. The following are some excellent tips for nipping stress in the bud.
A great way to reduce the stress that you experience is to reduce your caffeine intake. A large intake of caffeine can increase the levels cortisol in your body. Cortisol is the stress hormone in your body that helps to regulate many things including weight gain, mood swings, heart disease and diabetes. By decreasing your caffeine intake, you will naturally decrease your stress levels.
Try rating your stress points on a scale that ranges from zero to ten. Assigning a one indicates the problem to be the least of your worries, while a ten means you’ve got a real fire to put out. Seeing them rated and placing an importance on the things stressing you in your life will help you not stress over the smaller items.
Avoid factory farmed meats, eggs and dairy products. These products are filled with adrenaline due to the horrible cruelty experienced by the animals. Excess adrenaline will raise your levels of the stress hormone, Cortisol. This will cause you to experience excess stress levels, decreasing your level of overall health and happiness.
The key to reducing the stress in your life is to lead a healthy lifestyle. By eating healthy on a regular basis and exercising, you are giving your body a head start in keeping stress at bay. Eating well-balanced meals gives your body all of the nutrients that are necessary to stay healthy, keeping stress hormones at their lowest levels possible. Exercise also helps to battle any high stress levels, as well as releases the good hormones, known as endorphins, that will help you to be happy.
Unclench your jaw and try to avoid grinding your teeth together. When you are under a heavy load of stress, your whole body feels it, but it’s especially felt in your jaw. If you feel the stress starting to build, consciously clench your jaw as you breathe in, and then relax the muscles as you breathe out. This exercise will help you to relieve tension and stop clenching your jaw.
Stop drinking caffeine. Don’t stop cold-turkey, gradually wean yourself, or you will get headaches that could last several days. Drinking less caffeine will help you deal with stress. Caffeine gets you amped up and can cause you to be irritated or stressed by things that normally wouldn’t stress you.
Limit the amount of alcohol that you drink during the course of the night when at the bar or club. When you consume alcohol, your stress levels will go up and you will become flustered quicker. Instead, drink soda or a fruit drink if you want to limit your stress.
Sip on tea to help calm yourself. Chamomile tea is known for its calming effect, but there are also other teas that can calm you as well. Try a cup of passionflower, catnip, kava kava, or skullcap. Steep these herbs for about 10 minutes and you will get the full effects of their calming powers.
If you are a parent, one thing that you can do to calm things down around the house is to read to your children. This will keep them in place so that they are not giving you a hard time when you get home from work. Reading to your children can help create a soothing atmosphere in your home.
Take some time for yourself. Always set aside a little time each day to devote to yourself. Whether it’s a little time in the morning before anyone else is awake or in the evening when dinner is over – try to relax. Some people find that meditation helps them, some like relaxing in a warm bath, whereas others like to destress themselves by going for a walk or a run.
Goal setting is an integral component to dealing with the stress and pressure that you will face. Try to set reasonable goals that are not too high or too low, so that you are not only capable of achieving them, but feel satisfaction after you do. Proper goal setting is important to limit anxiety.
Meditation is an excellent and time-honored way to deal with stress. Many religions include meditation as a practice, but even if you are not religious, you can still benefit from meditation. Just find something to focus on and concentrate on breathing slowly and evenly. A few meditation sessions each week can provide great benefits.
Making the effort to keep stress as a minor annoyance, instead of a major one, takes time. Tuck these tips away for a time when you’re experiencing stress, and then you’ll feel more in control of your feelings. Don’t let stress take over your life; use these tips to deal with it.