How You Can Help Conquer Stress in Your Life
By Sara Butler
It might sometimes seem all the things you have to do in your life are overwhelming. Challenges at work, at home, in relationships and even with your financial situation can make it feel as if the weight of the world is squarely on your shoulders. The good news is stress is temporary. Sure, some stressful situations can last longer than others, but at the end of the day, stress can be managed. Here are a few tips you can use to help tackle stress in your life.
Your Body’s Stress Response
When you’re feeling stressed, your body releases something called “stress hormones.” These are a part of your physiological fight or flight response, but over time having your body flooded with stress hormones can be damaging. They can weaken your immune system, impact how well your brain functions or it can make any chronic health condition you have worse.
This is why it’s so important to come up with strategies to deal with the stress in your life.
Tip No. 1: Face It
You have to find healthy outlets for the stress you are feeling in your life so you can sort it out. Physical exercise is a great outlet and it helps to relax you and change the way your brain reacts to stress. When you exercise in order to reduce stress you:
- Reduce heart rate
- Reduce breathing rate
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce muscle tension
So, if you’re feeling stressed, pound it out on the pavement with a jog or breathe it out in a yoga class. As long as you do some sort of moderate exercise twice a week or more it can help you cope more appropriately with chronic stress in your life.
Tip No. 2: Be Nice to Yourself
This is an easy one, but it can be one of the most difficult to do. Many people only reinforce their stress with negative self-talk. When you try and have a more positive outlook not just on your situation but also yourself, you will help to reduce the stress hormones in your system.
Tip No 3: Set Realistic Goals
You have to know what is in your control and what isn’t. Too often people become stressed about things they cannot change. You can’t control other people or their actions; all you can do is control yourself. Focus on that and you’ll be able to feel like you’re making progress.
These are small tips, but they can help you make big gains in controlling your stress levels, which is not only going to help you be happier, but healthier too!