Stress is an inevitable part of life. It comes in different shapes and sizes, and it can be difficult to cope with at times. Stress comes from a variety of sources including school, work, family, friends, relationships, finances, and much more. However, if left unchecked or unaddressed long-term stress can lead to serious consequences like anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders and more. Self-care is a great way to help manage stress levels from day-to-day and prevent negative outcomes as a result of excess stress. If you’re experiencing stress as a result of something in your life right now, take some time to read through this article for tips on how you can incorporate self-care into your everyday routine.
Ditch the Stressor
If there’s something in your life right now that’s causing you stress, ditch it. If you’re having trouble figuring out why you’re stressed out about this particular thing, take some time to reflect on your life and what’s going well for you instead. Keep in mind that it’s okay to ask for help and it’s not a weakness to say that you need a break from something. Once you’ve ditched the stressor, work on replacing it with something that isn’t so overwhelming. Try to focus on something positive and something that’s manageable. This can be something as small as a hobby or something as large as a cause that you’re passionate about. Whatever it is, find something that makes you happy and let it fuel your life.
Get Some Sunshine
Sunshine is one of the most underrated natural remedies when it comes to reducing stress. This isn’t to say that it’s possible to avoid it completely, but it is possible to increase the levels of serotonin and dopamine in your brain with a daily vitamin-rich breakfast of oranges and strawberries, a daily dose of sunlight, or a daily meditation session. Sunlight is important for mental health for many reasons. For example, it regulates your circadian rhythm, it improves your sleep, and it increases your serotonin and dopamine levels. If you live in a city, try to make an effort to get outside and into the sunshine during your lunch break or at the end of the day. You can even try taking an item like a reusable vitamin-rich bag or holding to get some Vitamin-D while you’re out. If you have the opportunity to travel to a different part of the world or even just a different part of your city, see if you can take advantage of some sunlight while you’re there.
Eat Well and Sleep
When you’re feeling stressed, try to focus on eating healthy foods that are packed with vitamins and minerals. This will help you to feel more in control of your life and prevent any low blood sugar spikes that could lead to a mood swing. If you can, try to make sure you’re eating enough protein and healthy fats with every meal. This will help you to stay full for longer, give your muscles energy for when you need to use them at work or school, and keep your blood sugar levels steady so that you don’t experience mood swings from low blood sugar. Try to make sure that you’re sleeping well every night as well. Look for ways to combat insomnia, such as taking a relaxing bath, winding down with a candlelit bath, or wearing an eye mask when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed. You could also try to make sure that you’re doing things that relax you, like listening to relaxing music, reading a hobby, or journaling.
Exercise for Stress Relief
Regular exercise can help to reduce stress and improve your mood. Research has shown that aerobic exercise, such as running, swimming, or climbing, has a positive effect on serotonin levels in the brain, increasing feelings of wellbeing and reducing stress. While exercising for stress relief is important, it’s also important to be mindful of how hard you’re working out and what you’re doing with your body. If you’re finding that you’re pushing yourself too hard or that you’re doing something too strenuous, try to take a break and do something else to relieve your stress. Keep in mind that exercise isn’t a quick fix and you shouldn’t expect to feel better after a few days of working out. Instead, you should aim to work out consistently for a month before expecting the benefits to kick in.
Conclusion
The good news is that it is possible to reduce stress and improve your mental health in a relatively short period of time. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to do everything on your own. There are a number of support services and resources that are available to people who want to improve their mental health and access support for any issues that they’re experiencing. In fact, the more you engage with these services and resources, the better off you’ll be.
