Here’s a common fact we all know but we still want to put it out there: Stress kills.
Although this may not be an instant event, it happens gradually by making the body easily predisposed to diseases such as tension headaches, diabetes, depression, heart disease, high blood sugars, Alzheimer’s disease, and others.
The human body is not built to withstand long periods of stress. This fact alone should excuse a number of us from the day to day hassles we encounter at home, at work, and during our commute.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t and the only viable solution is, we have to learn how to manage stressful situations affecting us before they eventually ruin us.
If you’ve been having difficulty dealing with stress in your life, try these 5 simple but effective tips and watch your stress management skills increase to that of a pro.
Improve Your Diet
Stressors increase your cravings for junk food. Once you give in to that urge, you’ll find yourself in an unpleasant circle of binge eating and feeling more stress.
Sugary and processed foods hike up blood sugar, which in turn, increases anxiety and causes stress leading to another round of cravings with the added bonus of fatigue. So, swap all crap in your diet for a healing, nutrient-dense diet rich in B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and healthy fats.
B vitamin gives energy, magnesium and calcium relieves headache and relaxes the muscles and healthy fats stabilize moods and reduce inflammation.
Prioritize Self-Care
If you really want to minimize your stress levels, it’s critical you learn to balance and delegate tasks to others and not overburden yourself. Tell yourself it’s okay to rest and make self-care a priority in your life.
Self-care is not selfish. In fact, it can aid your rejuvenation and put you in a better mood and frame of mind to relate positively with others.
Get a Good Night Rest and Rise Early
Scientifically, it has been proven that not sleeping well at night can increase emotional stress levels by as much as 30%. The study also went on to say what happens when you sleep well.
Anxiety levels were observed to decrease SIGNIFICANTLY the next day. Other studies revealed that waking up early reduces stress and also contributes positively to mental health as well as overall wellbeing.
Eliminate Distractions
Distractions prevent you from getting your work – whether at the office or home – done on time. When you’re unable to meet a deadline, pressure may start to mount on you which gives rise to feeling rushed and stressed.
Sometimes, distractions may even affect the quality of your work which may necessitate a repeat. A repeat could add to your already high workload which becomes another stressful situation for you.
Therefore, avoid or set a limit on how much you use your mobile phones, TV, laptops, and other devices or events that may be a distraction.
Write a To-Do List
Planning ahead and prioritizing activities you need to accomplish the next day, week, or within a certain time frame will ease your stress greatly. Planning makes you stay organized and focused.
It pushes you to do pressing tasks on time which consequently helps you meet deadlines better than before.
