Did you know that women are 8% more likely to report feelings of stress than men?
If you’re struggling with stress in your own life, it helps to implement some stress management techniques. These can help you wind down and reduce the negative effects of stress on the mind and body.
Are you ready to develop a stress management strategy?
Check out these techniques to give you some ideas.
1. Work Out
We’re all aware that exercise releases endorphins, but what does that actually mean? Well, endorphins are a type of feel-good signal that helps you relax and unwind.
There are plenty of different workouts for stress that you can try, too. Some people find running is the way to get their stress out, while others enjoy boxing or yoga.
If you’re dealing with a lot of stress in your life, find a form of exercise and get active. Getting out and working up a sweat is a great way to start reducing stress in your life.
2. Let Your Muscles Relax
When we have tense muscles, it can cause us to feel more stressed out and anxious. Many of us don’t even realize that we’re tensing our muscles.
If you’re dealing with stress, it’s not a bad idea to practice some techniques for relaxing your muscles. Here are a few ways you can do so:
- Stretching
- Taking a hot bath
- Applying warm compresses
- Sleeping
- Treating yourself to a massage
Pick the method that you like best and let yourself enjoy a bit of soothing self-care for your muscles.
3. Breathe Deeply
Deep breathing techniques can work wonders for relieving stress and reducing anxiety. It’s a very easy practice to implement.
For this technique, sit in a comfortable position. Counting to five, breathe in, allowing the air to completely fill your chest.
Now, allow your breath out in one long breath. Counting to five as you breathe out is a great way to make sure you’re breathing out fully.
4. Try Therapy
Sometimes when we’re stressed out, all we need is someone to talk to. And, while relieving stress with friends can be helpful, sometimes it’s better to book a therapy appointment and speak to a professional.
Therapy is great because it gives you a safe space to let out your feelings. You can talk to your therapist about anything you like, unloading any baggage that’s causing you stress.
Better yet, therapists can provide you with stress management techniques. They can show you how to effectively manage your stress and reduce it in your life.
5. Eat Properly
When we don’t have proper nutrition in our lives, that can also lead to stress. Many times, we’re eating poorly and don’t even realize it.
If you find yourself feeling inexplicably stressed out, a poor diet could be to blame. Analyze what you’re eating and see if there are any changes that you can make.
Your meals should include fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and a solid source of protein. You can also supplement your diet with vitamins to make sure you get enough core nutrients.
Even if you’re eating a balanced diet, you might not be eating correctly. Make sure that you’re not skipping meals or binging on meals late at night.
6. Slow Down
Many of us are in so much of a hurry that we don’t even realize we’re rushing. We zip into the fast lane on our way to work, blast up and down the stairs at the office, or run around frantically when the alarm clock goes off.
Instead of rushing from place to place, practice slowing down. Give yourself enough time throughout the day so that you can take things a bit slower.
One trick you can do is to set your alarm forward 5 or 10 minutes. This gives you extra leeway so that you can take your time when going about your day.
7. Take Breaks
Another major cause of stress in many people’s lives is overworking themselves. Many people spend so much time working that they forget to take breaks.
Taking breaks should be a regular part of your day. These breaks don’t need to be excessively long, but can be just 10 minutes where you slow down and let yourself rest.
Another good practice is to turn off your devices while on your break. Those texts and emails can wait until you get back, giving you a bit of time to just unwind and let go of stress.
8. Find a Hobby
Finding something you love to do can be a great outlet for stress. For some people that means playing a sport, while for others it means sitting down to paint with a cup of tea.
No matter what it is that you love, figure it out and give yourself time to do it. Even just allowing yourself to enjoy these hobbies for a few minutes a day is a great way to relieve stress in your life.
9. Practice Affirmations
Affirmations are a great way to relieve stress and improve your overall well-being. With affirmations, you simply tell yourself affirmative, positive statements.
These types of affirmations can be said while looking at yourself in a mirror. You could also write them down in a thought journal.
No matter how you choose to do them, writing down affirmations is a great practice for self-love. It helps boost your confidence and reduce stress at the same time.
Put These Stress Management Techniques Into Practice
By using some of these stress management techniques, you can start living a more fulfilled life. You can start giving yourself the space you need to relax and unwind.
If you want to try therapy for stress management, Abundant Living is here for you. Book an appointment with us and let’s walk together to rid stress from your life.
