Ten Tips to Lower Your Stress Level
Stress is the body’s physical response to the perception of danger. We are wired to respond to danger by preparing to fight or getting ready to run. The problem in our modern society is that many situations invoking this feeling don’t need either response. There’s not much good in fisticuffs with your boss if you are concerned that your job is in jeopardy. Running away won’t help you to deal with a spouse who doesn’t put the dirty clothes into the hamper as you had asked. Yet these kinds of situations trigger physical responses that cannot be acted upon. We call the resulting mismatch “stress,” and it can make us sick.
Doctors advise lowering stress levels to help with an array of physical ills, from high blood pressure to obesity. Here are ten quick tips to reduce your stress level and move toward a calmer lifestyle and a healthier you.
âÂ?¢ Get a Hobby. Hobbies and similar diversions are relaxing and will help you to manage stress. When we engage in an activity we enjoy, other cares are pushed aside for at least a few minutes and we’re more able to relax. What can you do? Try thinking back into your past and remember what you used to do for fun. Perhaps you enjoyed walking or hiking? Maybe you liked to paint. Bird-watching, sewing, woodworking, reading, gardening, doing crafts, and photography are other ideas. Hobby possibilities are nearly endless, but do a bit of exploring and find out which is right for you. Choose one that is within your budget, then go for it! Find other enthusiasts to share your ideas and provide support and advice. See if you can share the results of your hobby with someone else. Now, spend some time with your hobby. That’s an order!
âÂ?¢ Help Someone Else. It’s funny how focusing on someone less fortunate can alleviate some of our own stress, but it really works. Reach out to someone and you will discover this secret. You may need to try several options before you find the right one, but do try. It’s a very effective stress-management technique. Some people do well with scheduled activities and others operate better with greater flexibility. Many volunteer options can be tailored to your needs. Check with local schools to see if you can be a mentor or helper. You needn’t be an educator to offer a stable, caring adult relationship to a child. Try local nursing homes, care facilities and hospitals. There are lonely people in all of those places that would appreciate cards, phone calls, and visitors. Check with youth organizations to see if you can help a group of children in Scouting, 4-H, Campfire, or Boys and Girls Clubs. Many of these groups are now offering flexible, short-term positions that don’t involve the traditional level of commitment. Churches can often provide you with contact information for elderly or shut-in members who need assistance with basic household or yard work. Spend just a bit of time reading or writing letters or chatting. Parents of small children will appreciate a bit of time away from their charges. Could you offer to play with the kids for a few hours while they grocery shop in peace? The possibilities are endless, and the rewards are great.
âÂ?¢ Organize Your World. For many people, stress is aggravated by lost car keys, misplaced papers, and bills that go unpaid. Organize your life and you will eliminate these sources of stress. Take a few days and do a massive spring cleaning, no matter what the season. Put everything away, design filing systems that work for you, designate a special place for important items, and make the changes that you’ve always wanted to make. Now, set a few small, achievable goals in this area. If the car keys go AWOL on a regular basis, promise yourself that they will be put on the wall hook without fail. If the bills are misplaced and then going unpaid, make a special place where every bill will go so that it can be dealt with. Start with small changes, and discover how much stress you can alleviate with baby steps.
âÂ?¢ Sort Your Worries. Everyone has worries, but what separates the stressed out from the relaxed person is how the worries are handled. Worries tend to come in two categories: those you can do something about and those you can’t. Learn to tell the difference between the two, because fretting about things you can’t change will only add to your stress level. Take practical action about the things you can change and let go of the other worries.
âÂ?¢ Try Some Relaxation Techniques. These physical routines can help relax your body which will in turn relax your mind. A very simple one is called “Palming.” Take off your glasses if you wear them. Rub your hands together rapidly so that the friction warms your palms. Now, place your warm palms on your closed eyelids. Go on, try it right now! You’ll be amazed at how soothing this can be, and the best part is that you can do it nearly any time or any place. Other techniques to explore include tensing and relaxing your muscle groups, visualizing soothing scenarios, and deep breathing.
âÂ?¢ Pet the dog or the cat. It doesn’t seem to matter. Petting an animal is soothing and can lower blood pressure. There’s something about making that creature feel good that will lower your own stress level.
âÂ?¢ Take a Walk. Gentle exercise can reduce your stress and it’s good for you as well! A brisk walk will help you to breathe more deeply, and allow your mind to wander away from the things that are stressing you out. You’ll be able to think more clearly and put your problems into a new perspective.
âÂ?¢ Put Things In Perspective. Find a way to evaluate your worries. Some like to use a question, like “Will this still be important a year from now?” or “Will this have an impact on my life?” Try an experiment: Write down the things that are troubling you in a journal for several weeks. Put the journal away for at least a month. Get it back out and see if those stressors actually amounted to anything important. You’ll find that many of the things you fuss and fume about now will seem inconsequential in a few weeks or months.
� Play! Get out a game, go to the park and join in an activity, shoot some baskets, or do anything else that qualifies as playing in your mind. By its very nature, play helps people to relax. Your mind will focus on the play activity and take a break from the things that are causing your stress. When you return to the day-to-day realities, chances are good that you will have a better outlook and a more sensible perspective.
� Hug a Loved One. Hugs have numerous physical benefits. Hugging people are generally healthier and happier. Simply sharing that moment of close contact can help you to feel better and more able to cope with whatever is going on in your world. Try it and see!
Don’t just sit there and stew in your stress-filled lifestyle! There are ways that you can change things. You don’t have to feel upset and stressed out all the time. Take charge and find ways to relax. You will be happier and healthier in the long run.
