Stress is a phenomenon that has become a part of our daily life, we can’t really escape or avoid it. The only thing we can do is learn to deal with stress in a healthy manner. Stress is defined as a response to an event that exceeds our ability to cope with it.
A certain level of stress is necessary for motivation, it is known as
eustress. It pushes us to work towards our goals without draining us mentally, physically or emotionally. But when those levels exceed and it starts draining us, it’s called
distress. High levels of stress for long period of time can lead to many psychological and emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, irritability, panic attacks and a higher risk of health issues such as heart attack, stroke, hypertension, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. While it’s not possible to eliminate stress completely, we can try to incorporate certain habits that will help us deal with it effectively.
1. Planning and time management
If you have a plan then, you know what you have to do in a particular situation, this will reduce your stress significantly because you are in control.
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Other than making plans, you need to learn the art of time management, this is one essential skill that will always help you deal with different situations without being under too much pressure.
2. Think about what makes you happy
There are going to be times when you would be highly stressed out, during those times think about what makes you happy. If you are working towards a goal, visualise that goal and think about how it would make you feel when you achieve it. When you think about achieving your goals, it will make you feel happy and confident about what you are doing currently.
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| photo courtesy: drclairejetha |
If you don’t want to think about your goals at all, then visualise a place that relaxes you such as beach, mountains, or home, your body and mind will instantly feel calmer. You can simply spend 10 minutes in a day to think about this and it will benefit you immensely.
3. Relaxation techniques
There are many relaxation techniques that will help you cope with stress, you just need to decide which one works for you.
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You can listen to music, which will relax you and make you feel good instantly. You can meditate which will calm your mind and body, but it will take some practice before you can actually feel its effects. You can also engage in deep breathing exercises, which not only helps in reducing stress but also has many health benefits.
4. Exercise
Have you ever felt so stressed that you just wanted to let it out somehow? If so, then you need to exercise. Try to incorporate at least a 20 minutes workout session in your routine. It will help you channel your stress and make you feel positive and energetic.
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Start off with a mild routine and then move onto difficult ones, it will keep you healthy physically and mentally.
5. Food
I know caffeine is the number one thing you would reach out to when you are stressed, but try to avoid it as much as you can. Other than caffeine, avoid high sodium food, energy drinks, refined sugar and ice cream.
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During stressful situations, it’s very easy to start using substances such as alcohol or drugs to cope with stress, but you need to stay away from it because eventually, you will be dependent on it leading to more stress and issues. Try to include items like yoghurt, green leafy vegetables, dark chocolate, pistachio, oranges, lemons, bananas and green tea.
Written by
Sucharitha V
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