Stress is the most common thing in everyone’s life. Work, family issues, health concerns, and financial obligations are parts of everyday life that commonly contribute to heightened stress levels.
Here are some tips below that may relieve many types of stress, they are not a substitute for treatment from a mental health professional.
Physical Activity
Moving your body consistently may help to reduce stress levels and improve mood.
It was found that participating in aerobic exercise 2 days per week significantly reduced overall perceived stress and perceived stress due to uncertainty. Plus, the exercise routine significantly improved self-reported depression
Balanced Diet
Your diet affects every aspect of your health. Your eating habit leads to the strength of your mind. Being chronically stressed may lead you to overeat and reach for highly palatable foods, which may harm your overall health and mood.
Starvation also increases your risk of deficiencies in nutrients essential for regulating stress and mood, such as magnesium and B vitamins.
Whole food options can include: vegetables, fruits, beans, fish, nuts, seeds
Minimize Phone Use and Screen Time
We cannot avoid using smartphones, computers, and tablets completely, but overuse of these gadgets increases the stress level.
Spending too much time in front of screens is associated with lower psychological well-being and increased stress levels in adults and kids.
Furthermore, screen time may negatively affect sleep, which may also leadTrusted Source to increased stress levels.
Practice Self-Care
Setting aside time to practice self-care may help reduce your stress levels. Practical examples include:
going for a walk outside, taking a bath, lighting candles, reading a good book, exercising, preparing a healthy meal, stretching before bed, getting a massage, practising a hobby, using a diffuser with calming scents, practising yoga.
Create Boundaries and Learn to Say No
You have to learn to say “no” to protect your mental health. This is especially true if you take on more than you can handle because juggling many responsibilities may leave you feeling overwhelmed.
Being selective about what you take on — and saying “no” to things that will unnecessarily add to your load — can reduce your stress levels.
Creating boundaries — especially with people who add to your stress levels — is a healthy way to protect your well-being. This can be as simple as asking a friend or family member not to stop by unannounced or cancelling standing plans with a friend if you need more space.
Mindfulness
Stress reduction techniques that utilize mindfulness include meditation and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a type of cognitive behavioural therapy.
Meditating consistently, even for short periods, may help boost your mood and decrease symptoms of stress and anxiety.
Cuddle
Human touch may have a calming effect and help you better cope with stress. For example, studies show positive physical contact may help relieve stress and loneliness.
These types of contact may help release oxytocin and lower cortisol. In turn, these effects help lower blood pressure and heart rate. Both high blood pressure and increased heart rate are physical symptoms of stress.