10 Top Tips For Relieving Stress
Everyday events can cause a little bit of stress in our lives, but when these events take over and we start to feel stressed more often, we should learn how to manage our stress.Here at Ballsbridge Physiotherapy Clinic, we have compiled a list of our top 10 tips for relieving stress:
1) Identify The Triggers
Having the ability to pinpoint the triggers that contribute to your stress will make it easier to manage it in the long run. It is important to identify the main source of your stress. You can do this by examining the different areas of your life, for example; work, finances, relationships, and even your daily commute. Maybe it is possible to find ways to relive stress in some of these areas. Perhaps you could learn how to manage your money a bit better and how to delegate your time for different tasks at work. Even leaving the house ten minutes early could lead to a less stressful commute to work, therefore reducing the stress in your day.
2) Have A Good Cry
When you cry, you release pent-up stress and endorphins are released, relieving tension and making you feel better. Crying in front of a friend may be the most beneficial way for you to have a good cry as studies have shown that those who cried in front of a friend or loved one felt more supported and better overall. Taking a step back from a stressful situation and having a good cry will help you to let the stress out and understand that a problem can be solved.
3) Talk Yourself Through The Stress
Sometimes taking a deep breath, slowing everything down and talking yourself through the stressful situation is the best way to handle stress. By calming down your thoughts and telling yourself that everything will be okay, you can learn to control the stress.
4) Sweat It Out
Exercise has been proven as being one of the most effective ways of relieving stress. In addition to helping your heart, regular exercise releases endorphins which play a huge part in improving your mood. Just a couple hours of vigorous activity each week is said to play a huge part in managing stress levels.
5) Call A Friend
Take a break and call a good friend if you are feeling overwhelmed and in need of a chat. A reassuring voice, even for a couple of minutes, can bring a whole new perspective to a stressful situation.
6) Schedule "Me" Time
Taking some private time for yourself at the end of each day can help you to de-stress after a busy day. Whether you take five minutes of meditation or a bath for half an hour. By scheduling in this time for yourself each day you will consciously allow yourself to slow down and de-stress.
7) Listen To Music
By taking a break and listening to calming music, you can lower your blood pressure and reduce cortisol; a hormone that is related to stress. Listening to music, particularly calming music has a positive effect on the brain and body.
8) Write It Down
It might sound cliché but by you writing down your thoughts, this can help you to deal with stress. Recent studies suggest that when people write about meaningful or traumatic events, their health and other biological markers for stress improve.
9) Eat A Healthy Diet
Nutrition and stress levels are closely related and by eating a healthy, balanced diet you can significantly reduce your stress levels. By avoiding sugary and fatty snacks as a pick-me-up after a stressful day, and by eating fresh fruit and vegetables instead. Fish with high levels of omega-3 have been proven to be particularly useful in reducing the symptoms of stress.
10) Sleep Better:
Lack of sleep is a key contributor of stress and a continuous lack of sleep causes the brain and body to get out of whack, meaning that the problem will only get worse over time. By making a point of getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night you will be able to significantly reduce your stress levels.