Tips for Living in Today's Stressful World

By Randi Morse

If you feel like the world you live in is more turbulent now than it has ever been before, you are absolutely right. Politics, health scares, and global situations, all of these things can significantly affect your mental health. Having access to the internet is fantastic in that it lets us connect with friends and family and purchase things relatively easily. It's also a double-edged sword. Having so much connection means that we are aware at all points in time of just about everything that is going on. This overload of information can significantly impact mental health, which is why it's important to learn techniques that will help calm your mind and your body.

Ten Minutes - Just taking 10 minutes out of your day to breathe deeply and to relax can do wonders for your mental health. If you sit in a calm, quiet room for 10 minutes, close your eyes and focus on your breathing, your body will let go of the stress that it is currently holding and your mind will have a moment of peace. It's almost like wiping your mental health slate clean. If you can't find a quiet room, get some high-quality, noise reducing earbuds and play soothing music during your relaxation time.

Journaling - Talking about things that are bothering you is a great way to help relieve stress, but many people have a difficult time confiding their thoughts to someone else. If you find that you have a hard time talking to people, invest in a journal. Journaling allows you to get all of your thoughts down on paper. Often simply relieving your mind of all of the things you were thinking about helps to bring a sense of peace.

Exercise - Exercise creates endorphins, which helps make you feel good. Some people find that exercising is the ideal way to help calm their mind and focus. People who take to jogging or running to help alleviate their stress often say that they get in the "runner's zone." This is a place where the mind is calm and the only thing the runner is thinking about is how their feet feel on the pavement, or treadmill, and their breathing. 

We do live in a stressful time -- it's not something you're imagining -- so please don't feel like you're the only one who is stressed. Access to social media and constantly being bombarded with information is more than the human brain is designed to handle. Learn to take some time for yourself so that you can keep your mind, and body, healthy.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in West Bountiful, Utah.