3 Tips for Reducing Stress

When we are younger, life isn’t a big deal. Maybe we don’t love going to school every single day, but we don’t have to stress about things like bills, car maintenance, water leaks, work issues (even work-life-balance!), and relationship struggles. As an adult, there are so many things that you have to consider. So many things on your plate. All of this just piles up on your plate until you either figure out a way to manage it all, or until you explode with stress. Most of us end up getting to our breaking point with stress before we realize that we actually need to take action and do something about it. How do we manage it all, without stress, and while still living a life you love? It is possible! And it is possible to do it while also reducing your stress. Being an adult is hard - there is no doubt about that. But, it’s really important to lower your stress because it can affect your mental and physical health. Because I think it’s so important, I want to share a few tips for reducing stress with you today. I hope that this can help you manage it and live a life that you thrive in!

Keep your body healthy 

An easy way to increase your ability to resist and cope with stress is by keeping yourself healthy. Put in the good and eliminate the bad. Eat regular, well-balanced meals. Research confirms that exercise not only benefits you physically but also mentally. Exercise helps with stress management in the long-run as well as in a moment of stress. Even a quick workout can immediately trigger positive feelings. Getting quality sleep is important as well. On the flip side, there are negative ways to deal with stress. Turning to alcohol, nicotine, drugs, or even binge-eating can seem to be easy ways to de-stress, but they can aggravate your body and mind in the long run. Doctors also suggest reducing caffeine and sugar, as the energy crash they result in can make you more agitated and stressed.

Practice mindfulness

Learning to focus on your breathing can help you reduce stress. If you are able to take a few minutes out of the day and breathe in silence this can greatly help you reduce your stress. Sometimes, yoga or even meditation can be extremely beneficial. So many people have heard about meditation, but they haven’t jumped into it yet. Meditation can help reduce cortisol (which can lead to inflamed pathways, which can be an underlying cause of so many health problems) and helps improve emotional reactivity (the way you respond to stress). Researchers have compared meditation to other forms of stress relief, like physical activity, music therapy, etc., and all of those have positive effects on cortisol levels. But, one of those activities also stands out to researchers because it helps the most...and that’s meditation. So, next time you are considering doing medication, but choose not to, think about it again! Not sure how to do it? Find a cozy spot in your room and treat yourself to a vacation that’s all in your head: Close your eyes and imagine a relaxing place, such as a beach or a mountain view. Visualize the sights and smells. The more vivid a picture you paint in your mind, the more your body will respond to the invitation to relax. You are swinging in a hammock there and you are so relaxed.

Talk to someone

Human interaction is essential to all people, and having a conversation with someone you trust is a natural stress reliever. Reach out to your friends and family to catch up and get some bonding time, unless they happen to be the sources of your stress. You can also get this crucial person-to-person interaction by building new relationships. Volunteering, signing up for a new class, and joining a club are all great avenues to make new connections. You may also find it useful to talk with a physician or professional therapist. Healthcare professionals can help you find healthier ways to cope with your stress, help you find solutions, and add perspective. If you haven’t found ‘your’ therapist yet, start researching to find one. If you need an online therapist, it may be beneficial to check out Ray of Hope Counseling Services, since they have online therapy. It makes it so quick and easy! Plus, they accept all forms of insurance, which is a huge benefit. They also have in-person options, in so many cities around GA, so if you are looking for a therapist Peachtree City specifically, they can help out.

There are so many ways to reduce stress in your life, but talking with someone, keeping your body healthy, and practicing mindfulness are 3 ways that can be extremely beneficial!