Ways to Manage Your Everyday Stress

To a certain degree, stress is inevitable. Still, it should be manageable, and if you feel like you’ve been spread too thin, there are ways to fight back. 

There’s no magic, fix-it-all solution to stress—rather, there are a bunch of different things you can do to handle it. And that’s only logical, seeing as stress doesn’t come from a single source. Your finances, relationship troubles, work, family life, and many other situations can all contribute to your stress levels and cause everything from depression and anxiety to premature aging, chronic migraines, heart disease, and a bunch of other things you really don’t want. 

So, what can you do about it? Don’t worry, here are a few tips help you find your inner calm. 

KEEP A JOURNAL 

Pop culture would have you believe that only sullen teenagers keep journals, but it really is an excellent tool for stress management. It helps you with the first step of battling stress, which is recognizing that it exists and where it comes from.

Taking the time to think about your stressors long enough to put them “on paper” is often all you need to realize the root of your problems. Plus, the act of writing has long been one of the most effective emotional releases.  

FIND A FRESH PERSPECTIVE 

Sometimes, it’s important to take a step back from your thoughts and feelings and try to view them objectively. By nature, nothing is stressful on its own, it’s simply a mental state that shows how you perceive certain events and/or emotions.  

Of course, this doesn’t mean your stress isn’t real or valid—just looking at its source from a new point of view or “cognitive reframing” can be enough to lower your stress levels. 

GET BETTER SLEEP  

Cortisol is the primary “stress” hormone and levels are increased when your sleep is disrupted. Ensuring you’re getting enough sleep, and ensuring it’s good-quality sleep, is a relatively simple way to allow your body to recover from stress. 

EAT MORE OATMEAL 

There’s a reason why breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s a good practice to eat something filling and hot before you start a day that you expect to be stressful. 

Oatmeal is great for this because it takes just a couple of minutes to make, and it’s jam-packed with the complex carbohydrates that you need for sustained energy throughout your morning. Additionally, slow-burning carbs help with serotonin release, bringing you a sense of calmness and lowering stress. 

REMOVE SIMPLE SUGARS 

Of course, people who are into fitness know that all types of carbohydrates aren’t that great for your diet—but did you know they also influenced your stress levels? Simple carbs are the worst offenders here. Refined sugar, white flour, and processed drinks and food trigger a blood glucose spike—soon followed by an inevitable crash. This always leaves you with a considerable energy low, making it harder to make it through your day and raising your stress levels.  

PERFORM DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES 

One of the most common symptoms of stress is shallow, rapid breathing—which is precisely what you don’t need to alleviate stress. Considering that, you should practice more controlled, deeper breathing for the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress.  

A minute of deep breathing will allow more oxygen to enter your brain and body, resulting in a calm sensation—one that puts you in the right state to overcome your current emotions.  

TAKE A WALK 

You’ve probably realized this already, but regular exercise is an excellent (and productive) stress remedy. Don’t be intimidated by exhausting, intense workout sessions if you’re not used to them. Start small. Even a brisk, 10-minute walk will be enough to get you into a more relaxed state of mind.