Are you stressed??

Understanding Stress and how to manage it.

Unfortunately, stress has become a part of everyday life for a majority of the Earth’s population, but what is it and how can we manage it?

 Stress is defined as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. Stress levels will vary between individuals and it will also depend on how demanding the circumstance is.  Some may thrive under small amounts of stress; this is called eustress. Others may suffer from the crippling effects of chronic stress.

You may be thinking, how does stress really affect my body and well-being? Stress targets the cortisol levels in our brain. Increased levels of cortisol lead to minimized brain functioning or being able to “think straight.” This is often why it may be hard to sort out our thoughts when stressed (writing things down is always helpful!) These higher levels of cortisol may also affect sugar and blood pressure levels. We can also feel physical effects from stress such as aches and pains, trouble sleeping, and feelings of anxiety and tenseness.

Thankfully, there are many remedies that can instantly relieve stress and help to avoid unnecessary stress in the future.

Instant relief includes:

·         Work On A Puzzle

·         Play A Game

·         Journal

·         Do One Of Your Favorite Hobbies

·         Try A New Hobby

·         Draw Or Color

·         Practice Yoga

·         Meditate

·         Take A Bath

·         Light Some Candles And Relax

Longer lasting tools:

·         Prioritize Your Health (Eat And Sleep Well)

·         Maintain A Positive Mindset (Keep Focusing On The Positive!)

·         Master Your Time (Keep Your Schedule Organized To Prevent Missing A Deadline Or Event)

·         Take A Break From Your Screen! (Screens Give Us An Information Overload, Which Often Doesn’t Help To Relieve Any Stress)

While stress may be a looming presence in everyday life, it is important to remember that there are very simple ways to relieve pressure. Talking to family or friends can also be helpful if the self care remedies aren’t effective. Remember to look at the positives and take some deep breaths, you’ll be feeling better in no time!