Stress is something we all experience and all deal with in different ways. Stress management is vital to living a healthy and well-balanced life. Untreated, stress can turn chronic leading to a number of health issues including depression, anxiety, memory loss, chronic pain, sleep problems, autoimmune diseases, skin conditions, digestive problems, weight problems, reproductive issues and heart disease. Whether you have a high-profile job causing you to work 60+ hours per week or you’re a single parent of three, you need to make time for yourself and learn how to manage your stress. Follow these steps to start better managing your stress.
Get Moving
Exercise is one of the best known ways to reduce stress. You don’t have to go out and sign up for fitness classes or hit the gym every single day but something as simple as going for a walk can help reduce stress and chronic pain. In fact, going for a walk is one of the best things you can do for your body and it’s low impact. No matter what type of exercise you prefer, make a schedule and stick to it to help reduce stress and improve overall health.
Get Offline
Yep, that’s right….unplug your brain! When you’re trying to relax, scrolling Facebook, Instagram or Twitter should not be the first activity you think of. In fact, there have been a number of studies showing how bad the social platforms can be for your mental health. Instead of checking out how your old college roommates tropical vacation was or how your neighbor is seemingly “doing it all”, put the phone down, walk away from the computer and try one of the other tips in this article. Take a media news break as well, it all seems so negative these days with no “feel good” or “good deed” stories.
Read
Want to escape your reality for a little bit but can’t sail away on a cruise or jump on a plane? Read a book and get lost in the story. Reading will help relax your mind and reduce stress because for a short time, you won’t be running through your to-do list in your head for the 100th time today. Your mind will be solely focused on the words in front of you allowing you to breath and let go.
Keep a Journal
If you’re not a huge fan of reading, then start writing! Writing down what you do during the day and how you feel about it can be a very eye-opening experience to better managing your stress. You’ll start to learn and better understand what triggers your stress and what works to help relax you. You don’t have to write novels every day but just take notes throughout the day. This will help you recognize your habits so you can make positive changes. You may surprise yourself!
Light a Candle
A very simple, yet very effective way to calm yourself down after a stressful day is to light your favorite candle. Just sit in a quiet room, light the candle and sit with the scent for a few minutes. It helps to focus your eyes on the flame and feel your body relax and melt with the candle. For added benefit, try using scents that are known for reducing stress such as lavender, lemon, and orange. Also, essential oils have become very popular and have shown to have many beneficial effects on our body and brain.
Make Time for Yourself
This is the most important part to managing your stress. You may seem too busy and think you have too many other things to do but you have to make the time to take care of yourself. You should be your number one priority – not your job, not your partner and not even your kids. If you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else. Be unselfishly selfish!
If chronic stress is leaving you in pain or causing other health issues, find out how Dr. Phil Altieri can help you by calling our office to schedule a consultation. Dr. Philip Altieri has been successfully treating patients with proven long-term results in the Toms River area for over 20 years. Our office offers the latest in treatment techniques and advanced treatment protocols to help you obtain the very quickest results possible.
