Stress Management

When we heard the words stress to our minds, the first thought is that is something we have to avoid, but not all stress is bad or unnecessary, we can classify into 2 categories good stress and bad stress, and the difference between them: good stress is when feel excited and motivated to do something, there are many triggers for this good stress, and keeps us feeling alive and excited about life. Another type of stress is acute stress and comes from quick surprises that need a response. And this is what we normally think of stress, we can find many ways to relax this kind of stress. The bad stress, the type of stress that we really have to care about is chronic stress. This type of stress comes when we repeatedly face stressors that take a heavy toll and feel inescapable. A good example is a stressful job, it can become chronic stress.
However, good stress can turn into bad stress, and vice-versa. And the important things is to know how to manage and control it, instead of letting stress control you and your life.

How to handle stress:

Get moving. Upping your activity level is one tactic you can employ right now to help relieve stress and start to feel better. Regular exercise can lift your mood and serve as a distraction from worries, allowing you to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that feed stress. Rhythmic exercises such as walking, running, swimming, and dancing are particularly effective, especially if you exercise mindfully (focusing your attention on the physical sensations you experience as you move).

Connect to others. The simple act of talking face-to-face with another human can trigger hormones that relieve stress when you’re feeling agitated or insecure. Even just a brief exchange of kind words or a friendly look from another human being can help calm and soothe your nervous system. So, spend time with people who improve your mood and don’t let your responsibilities keep you from having a social life. If you don’t have any close relationships, or your relationships are the source of your stress, make it a priority to build stronger and more satisfying connections. 

Engage your senses. Another fast way to relieve stress is by engaging one or more of your senses —sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, or movement. The key is to find the sensory input that works for you. Does listening to an uplifting song make you feel calm? Or smelling ground coffee? Or maybe petting an animal works quickly to make you feel centered? Everyone responds to sensory input a little differently, so experiment to find what works best for you.

Learn to relax. You can’t completely eliminate stress from your life, but you can control how much it affects you. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing activate the body’s relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the polar opposite of the stress response. When practiced regularly, these activities can reduce your everyday stress levels and boost feelings of joy and serenity. They also increase your ability to stay calm and collected under pressure.

Eat a healthy diet. The food you eat can improve or worsen your mood and affect your ability to cope with life’s stressors. Eating a diet full of processed and convenience food, refined carbohydrates, and sugary snacks can worsen symptoms of stress, while a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, high-quality protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, can help you better cope with life’s ups and downs.

Get your rest. Feeling tired can increase stress by causing you to think irrationally. At the same time, chronic stress can disrupt your sleep. Whether you’re having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night, there are plenty of ways to improve your sleep so you feel less stressed and more productive and emotionally balanced.

References

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-signs-and-causes.htm