Even if you don’t struggle with anxiety, just about everyone goes through periods of extreme stress.
If you don’t know how to manage stress, you may find yourself using unhealthy coping mechanisms that can make it difficult to get back to your normal lifestyle. If you’re looking for new ways to help manage your day-to-day stress, here are ten things you can try.
1. Avoid Stimulants
If your days are becoming more stressful, you may want to consider cutting back on the coffee. If you smoke, you may want to think about cutting back on cigarettes as well. Quitting altogether may be more than you can handle currently, but even decreasing your usage a little should help. Though they may seem like effective coping mechanisms, nicotine and caffeine can actually increase your stress levels and make you more irritable throughout the day. Instead of loading up on coffee, prioritize a healthy sleep schedule. While certain stressors can make you wish for a drink at the end of a long day, alcohol can also make stress worse. This is especially true if you wake up hungover and are unable to accomplish your many tasks during the day. While medication can help, there is usually a trial and adjustment period while you find the type and dosage that works for you. On the other hand, CBD oil is easy to find and can be extremely effective in reducing effects of depression and anxiety.
2. Stop Saying “Yes”
Some feelings of heightened stress are linked to obligations to others. If you have people depending on you at your job, at home or in your social circles, you may feel like you have to agree to more than you can handle. In this case, it is essential that you sort out your priorities before you become too overwhelmed. It may be time to step back and focus on things that are important to you, and you only. Author Nora Roberts makes an excellent point about juggling priorities. When you have lots of balls in the air, know which ones are glass, and which ones are plastic. Maybe that important task at work is glass and you can’t afford to drop it. Meanwhile, volunteering for the PTA bake sale is decidedly plastic, but your child’s play that they’ve been rehearsing for all semester is definitely glass. Managing stress is crucial to a healthy lifestyle, so don’t feel guilty about stepping back and reassessing what you can handle.
