5 Ways to Manage Stress
5 Ways to Manage Stress
Life can be stressful. From busy work seasons to hectic family schedules to finals week, stress accompanies almost every life stage. Hustle culture teaches us that stress is normal and that it should be expected in our everyday lives. But is it really? Living a life of constant stress can quickly become exhausting, leaving you feeling burnt out and numb. Stress can come from school, work, relationships, and more. Stress has been shown to have negative health effects, such as shortness of breath, headaches, muscle fatigue, and mood changes. Stress shouldn’t be taken lightly, despite how normalized it is in today’s hustle culture. Stress can lead to a variety of health concerns, so it really should be something that is prioritized. But what can really be done about stress?
Is it really possible to manage stress?
Yes! Although it might seem impossible in the moment, managing stress is very possible. It might take some adjusting to initially, but over time, it becomes easier. Stress management is vital to overall health and well-being, so it’s important to prioritize it. Below are some neat tips and tricks that might help reduce your stress. Before immediately saying, “There’s no way that works!”, give it a try. It may not be the long-term solution for reducing stress entirely, as that might require further work, but by keeping up with these habits, your stress levels might become more manageable.
Tips to manage stress:
Get more physical activity: This doesn’t mean signing up for an intensive boot camp. Generally speaking, getting more movement has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve mood. This could mean going for a quick walk while on lunch, doing light yoga before work meetings, or biking to work instead of driving. You don’t need to pay for a new gym membership or fancy equipment to get moving (although, if you wanted to, you could!)
Limit caffeine intake: Look, we get it! Coffee is necessary to get through a work day. We’re not saying cut coffee out completely- rather, it might be beneficial to go from having 7 cups of coffee a day to 2 cups of coffee a day. Or, you can try switching from coffee to teas, which still have caffeine in them. Ever heard of the coffee jitters? Some people find themselves to be extra jittery after having their morning cup- this might increase stress and anxiety, so it’s important to monitor your body’s reactions to caffeine. Slowly reducing the amount of caffeine you take in per day could be helpful in reducing stress.
Set boundaries: This one can be difficult, but some people find themselves stressed out because they couldn’t say no. When your boss asks you to take over a new project, despite your hands being full with another one, you might say yes to impress them. But that leaves you stressed out over two projects, leaving you with barely any time to breathe. Or when your friends vent to you nonstop, their problems might start to feel like your problems, leaving you feeling as if you don’t have the space to process what’s going on in your own life. Learning to set healthy boundaries can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. Setting boundaries doesn’t always mean you’re saying “no” completely- sometimes, it can look like saying, “I can do this much, but that is all,” or “I don’t have time today, but why don’t you come over next weekend instead so we can talk about it?”
Don’t procrastinate: This one can be hard! Some people might say, “I do my best when it’s last minute.” But for a lot of other people, waiting until the last minute to complete a task adds more stress and anxiety. Waiting until the buzzer goes off to submit an assignment or finalize a project can add way too much pressure! If you find that procrastinating causes you more stress, try breaking the task up into manageable parts. For example, if you have a big project due in a month, set weekly goals that are obtainable for you to accomplish. By working on it in chunks, you might find your stress levels to be much lower.
Practice self–care: Self-care doesn’t always mean bubble baths and binge watching your favorite TV show. Self-care includes an intentional habit to put yourself first. For some, this might look like doing a weekly spa night with relaxing music, dimly lit candles, and a healthy meal. For others, it might mean going on daily walks, picking up a new hobby, or calling an old friend. It doesn’t have to be expensive, nor does it have to be time-consuming!
growgood psychology has a team of therapists ready to help you manage your stress.
Our team of therapists are ready to help you figure out what is causing you stress, as well as how to manage it. Life can be stressful- you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our team is ready to walk alongside you as you navigate through life’s most stressful events. Connect with us today to begin working towards stress management and healing!