We all have stress in our lives. Unless you’re independently wealthy and have no one to worry about in your life, it’s unavoidable. But even then, I would be willing to bet some still exists. While the holidays are considered one of the most stressful times of the year, stress exists throughout the entire year. The key is to identify what may cause stress and takes steps to minimize the affects. Because the alternative? It’s not good.
This is important. So before we talk about how we can reduce the stress in our lives, let’s talk about why it’s important. In other words, why it’s bad for you.
The list of adverse effects stress may have on you is long and varied. Many more than we could possibly cover in a single blog post. Plus, I don’t have a Ph.D. or any other letters after my name. So I’m just going to cover some of the big ones we should all pay attention to, but would rather forget.
- When untreated, stress can increase anxiety and depression, deter motivation and focus, and continue to spiral the mind into a state of feeling overwhelmed.
- Stress can lead to increased blood pressure and increase the risk for heart disease.
- Some studies have found that stress may be associated with digestive issues, like constipation, heartburn, diarrhea, as well as digestive disorders.
- Stress can lead to a depression of your immune system. In other words, you are more likely to become sick.
This list only contains 4 adverse effects of stress, but there are many more. Regardless, this list should be more than enough to remind you how bad it really is and that you need to take steps to reduce the amount of stress in your life. So, how can you do that?
Make a plan
When you know you are going to be facing a stressful time, make a plan. Understand what you need to do, and break the individual tasks into bite-size pieces. If you plan properly, you won’t be faced with needing to accomplish everything at the last minute and all at once, giving you a chance to breath and evaluate as you go. This way, you also won’t be hit with any surprises at the last minute that could just increase your stress level. Your to-do list will help you keep track of everything you need to do and when everything needs to be finished.
Make time for hobbies and the things you love to do
Even though you have a lot on your plate, that doesn’t mean the rest of your life stops and you only focus on whatever project is causing the stress. Life does go on! So make sure your life goes on, too. The things that you love to do, your hobbies, don’t go away. Be sure to make time for you and what relaxes you. It can be anything you enjoy doing. Do you love to read? A good book can soothe your idle mind. Maybe you love to run or play tennis. And remember, the weekend is for fun and relaxation.
Exercise
For some of us, exercise is a 4-letter word. But exercise is one of the best stress relievers around. Most of us, when we think about exercise, we think about going to the gym, a chore that can seem quite tedious. But easy exercise is all around us. Exercise can be found in our hobbies, like gardening. And it can be found in our everyday lives in things like taking the dog for a walk. Not only will your dog thank you, but so will your mind and body.
Eat well
Everyone loves food – in some form or fashion. But everyone’s relationship with food is different, especially in a situation that is stressful. Some people stress eat, while others stop eating completely. Neither option is a good option. When you are stressed, it’s important to maintain healthy eating habits.
Get a good night’s sleep
In addition to the obvious benefit of giving you the energy you need to tackle the day, a good night’s sleep has a lot of other benefits, too. It helps keep you healthy, helping you to not get sick as often. You’re probably not as grouchy as you are when you sustain yourself with coffee, allowing you to get along better with those around you. And your stress level is lowered.
Recognize when times are going to become stressful
The most important thing you can do in managing your stress is recognizing when you are going to be faced with a stressful time. We know what causes our stress, but we don’t always want to acknowledge that an event or project will be stressful. Recognize it. Own it. Only when we recognize and own these times are we able to plan to effectively accomplish what needs to be done, but we are also able to make sure that we are doing things for ourselves that will help manage and reduce that stress.
