If there is one thing that I have learned over the years is that life can be stressful at times. You can’t ever predict when the stress will hit or what will cause it. It could be family, job, relationship, financial, and school related. It doesn’t matter where it comes from stress takes a toll on your body. Some symptoms of stress that I have discovered are headaches, teeth grinding, feeling overwhelmed, weight gain, and overall tiredness. I find that the symptoms of stress only continue to add to your stress levels. It is paramount to deal with your stress in a positive and healthy way. I have found a few ways to help myself de-stress and wanted to share them with you all.
One of my favorite ways to de-stress is to be active. I find that if in stressful times, if I do not stay active my body starts to ache and get tired and my mind is not clear. I usually go for a run, but if running is not an option, I will take a walk. During my walk or run, I will listen to music, a podcast, or an audiobook. Listening to something distract my mind from my stress, hence giving my thoughts a break for awhile. Now you may think, “I do not have time for a run or walk,” but 10 minutes is all you need and goes a long way.
Most of my stress comes from work since I put in a lot of hours and always have a deadline. It is very easy to get lost in work stress. When I find myself lost in a particular stress, I think it is important to take time for myself. Take a break and do something that helps you relax. For me this includes listening to records, sitting down and enjoying my tea, writing, or being creative. These may seem simple, but if you take 10-30 minutes out of your day to take care of yourself, you will find that you are more productive and less stressed.
Sometimes when stress can be so overwhelming, it can be helpful to talk about it with someone. Even if it does not solve your stress, saying the words out loud can put things into perspective for you. I try to find a friend or family member, who has no ties with my stressor to get an objective opinion or outlook.
When I am dealing with stress, all I want to do is eat junk food. However, eating poorly usually means that I will feel sluggish and only adds to my stress. I find that when I eat healthy during stressful times it keeps my body feeling better and I have more energy. Eating healthy may take a little more work on my part to plan and prep for meals as well as having easy access to healthy foods, but it will go a long way in helping me feel better.
Another helpful way to deal with stress is getting sleep. When feeling stress, I try to get up early and stay up late to get more time in a day. This lifestyle often intensifies my stress because I end up more tired. So I try to make an effort to turn off my electronic devices early in the evening (this helps with distractions) and go to bed at a decent time. I find that the extra rest and sleep goes a long way. I will wake up feeling refreshed and ready to conquer my day.
Stress is something that you can’t avoid and happens to everyone. It can have long lasting effects physically and emotionally, so the sooner you find positive coping skills, the happier you will be in life. I hope some of my de-stress skills were helpful for you. How do you deal with stress?
Outfit Details
New Balance shoes, Lululemon pants (similar here), Sweaty Betty top (similar here)
This article is not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned above. They are my thoughts and preferences.
Photos by @cristaltapp
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