Stress is one of those things that never seems to end. Work projects, deadlines at school, medical issues, the list goes on. Add on top of that navigating a pandemic and it’s no wonder we feel stressed so often.
It’s no secret that chronic stress can lead to health issues, which leads to more stress, which leads to… you see the pattern here. Stress management is critical to improving your quality of life. To recognize Stress Awareness Day on November 3, we’ve has compiled a list of stress management tips and techniques to help you alleviate some of the stress you’ve been feeling.
Identify the cause of your stress.
This doesn’t have to be a singular source. Often stress comes from a variety of different places. Identifying the stressors in your life can be beneficial. While it’s impossible to cut out every single stressor, we encourage you to look at the ones that can be modified or removed.
Practice breathing techniques.
Breathing techniques have been proven to help alleviate stress and clear the mind. Focus on each breath going in and each breath going out. Practices such as mediation and yoga are largely dedicated to the art of breathing. Give one of them a try!
Take time to focus on what’s important.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up by everything going on in our lives that we neglect ourselves. We put aside hobbies and passion projects. Staying up late to finish projects for work or school. While it can be challenging to make time, try and set aside some “me time” everyday. Start small, maybe half an hour a day of reading or going for a walk. Then adjust as necessary to your lifestyle and schedule.
Talk to someone.
If your stress feels so overwhelming that it is having a negative impact on your day-to-day life and causing you anxiety, reach out to someone you trust. Whether that be a family member, a friend, or a mental health professional, reaching out and having an honest discussion about your stressors and anxiety is the first step to correcting the problem. Help is available!
As you continue to navigate this difficult year, we encourage you to use these tips and techniques to manage the stress in your life. While there is no “fix-all” for stress, improvements in your life can be made.
