Constant stress can destroy your well-being and quality of life. Whereas if you learn how to live a calm, peaceful existence, everything is enhanced.
In the past year, millions of people reported feeling stressed, anxious, and depressed.
Not only have they’ve dealt with a pandemic, but some had car accidents, divorce, mortgages, insurance, medical issues, and more. These events can cause a great deal of tension!
Stress is a part of life, but how you react to it can make all the difference.
There are 2 types of stress: acute and chronic.
Acute stress
Acute stress isn’t as adorable as it sounds 😉 it’s filled with worrying, anxiety, depression, or self-doubt. No fun! But it rarely lasts very long so it might not seem like that big of a deal. If you don’t overcome these acute stressors they can become chronic.
Chronic stress
Chronic stress is more intense and lasts a much longer time, usually a month or more. It can cause muscle pain, increased blood pressure, anxiety, and headaches.
Above all, it can cause long-lasting physical and mental health problems. Some of these issues include heart disease, diabetes, depression, and anxiety.
Find out how well you’ve dealt with stress and take this quiz!
Luckily, you can triumph over the constant overwhelm, and I’m about to show you how.
Ways to conquer stress:
1. Change how you feel about stress
“Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax.”
―Bryant McGill
Don’t react to stress with emotional eating. Those junk foods might make you think If you view challenges as a test or a game, you give the situation meaning and that can teach you some valuable lessons.
Also, remind yourself that hard times are temporary.
2. Be more optimistic
“Rule number one is, don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule number two is, it’s all small stuff.”
— Robert Elliot
Strive to think positive, optimistic thoughts during tough situations. When you’re feeling tense, thinking “happy thoughts” is difficult, but it will benefit you in the long run.
Troubling events happen sometimes, but you have the power to choose your reaction. Your response will directly affect your stress levels.
So, it’s better to think more positive thoughts rather than self-defeating ones. Don’t catastrophize about how much this situation will impact your life. Chances are you’re making it seem much worse than it is.
3. Avoid emotional eating
“Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness. Not through insensibility but through greatness of mind.”
―Aristotle
When we’re stressed, our body releases cortisol, which creates cravings for sugary and salty foods. But, if you give in to these cravings too often, you put your health at risk with weight gain.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Discover how you can avoid emotional eating. Otherwise, it will add more issues to an already stressful life.
4. Say no to any extra stress
Don’t sacrifice your well-being for other people’s approval. You’re not helping yourself by accepting every task people pile on you.
Besides, people won’t hate you if you say no to their requests. If they do, screw them! They aren’t the kind you want in your life, anyway.
So, say no to adding unnecessary tasks to your schedule. Reduce your workload if possible, especially if you’re already overwhelmed.
5. Write about it
It can be very helpful and therapeutic to journal about what’s bothering you. It’s good to understand your feelings, even though it’s uncomfortable. You don’t need to become an amazing writer, this is just for you.
So, write about what’s bothering you. Then you can figure out what you should do to solve it.
6. Have more fun
“Tension is a habit. Relaxing is a habit. Bad habits can be broken, good habits formed.”
―William James
During rough times, it helps to distract yourself by having some fun. Spend time doing your favorite hobbies.
You could get creative and try some calligraphy, doodle, or color in a coloring book. Creative activities are therapeutic and relaxing. It allows your brain to have some time off, so you can feel refreshed and full of energy.
Otherwise, you could watch your favorite movie or TV show. Get your mind off of your worries so you can focus on enjoying life.
Afterward, you’ll feel happier and more relaxed. When you’re feeling good, you’ll do everything better.
7. Make progress on one of your goals
“Set peace of mind as your highest goal and organize your life around it.”
— Brian Tracy
Working toward your goals can take your mind off of your worries. Plus, making progress will fuel your soul with motivation and joy. It’ll make you feel better about yourself and your life.
8. Schedule your time better
“Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.”
―David Allen
Scheduling your time can boost your productivity and help you avoid unnecessary anxiety.
When you know what you need to do and what time, life gets much easier. The worst thing you can do is try to keep all your ultra-important tasks in your mind.
Write down everything you need to get done and at what time so you don’t have to worry about forgetting anything.
9. Practice self-compassion
In stressful times, it’s imperative that you practice self-compassion. So, focus on thinking kind, encouraging thoughts about yourself and what’s going on in life.
Don’t beat yourself up if things aren’t working out how you wanted. Instead, get back up and tell yourself you can overcome any obstacle.
10. Laugh
When you can laugh in the face of adversity, its power diminishes. It’s essential to not take things so seriously, so have a sense of humor, even during troublesome times. You’ll find that years later, it’s laughable that you were so worried, anyway.
Laughing is a sure-fire way to calm down and make you feel better. A good chuckle will decrease stress hormones, for instance, cortisol, adrenaline, and epinephrine. Furthermore, you’ll strengthen your immune system.
For instance, you could watch a feel-good movie or your favorite sitcom. You can’t be your best when you’re frazzled. So relax, kick back, and have a good laugh.
11. React to people with assertiveness
“These mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb.”
—Najwa Zebian
It’s easy to snap at people when they’re swinging on your last nerve. Instead of being mean, choose to react with assertiveness and calmly tell them how you feel.
That way, you won’t end up in an argument and you avoid exploding in anger or falling apart in tears. Plus, the other person is more likely to listen to you.
12. Sleep away the stress
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
―John Lubbock
Make sure you get plenty of sleep when you’re under a lot of stress. You’ll need it to recover mentally and physically. So, get some rest and you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to take on the world.
13. Call someone
“When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter in 5 years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go.”
―Catherine Pulsifer
Connecting with others and venting can help you chill out. But, don’t vent every time you talk to people. Consciously speak about the good things in life, too.
Also, listening and helping someone will get your mind off your troubles for the moment.
14. Try meditating
“To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.”
―Jill Botte Taylor
Meditation can soothe your mind quickly. People have used meditation for thousands of years, so it’s at least worth a try. It can give you lasting results on how you deal with pressure.
Meditation is easy! Simply get comfortable, close your eyes, then listen to your breathing. Focus only on your breath. If your mind wanders, just bring it back to your breath.
Additionally, you can make up a mantra to think about as you’re breathing. Meditation takes some practice, but the benefits will last a lifetime.
15. Find the lesson in stressful events
“Times of stress are also times that are signals for growth, and if we use adversity properly, we can grow through adversity.”
—Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski
Try to find the lesson you can learn from recurring anxiety. Is there something you’re doing to cause it? Ask yourself if you can do something different the next time you deal with this kind of situation.
16. Don’t stress about things you can’t control
“You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control, anyway.”
― Steve Maraboli
If you’re stressed about an unexpected change that you can’t control, it’s best to accept it. You’re doing yourself a favor by not resisting against it. Thus, saving tons of time in anguish.
Some situations are beyond your control. It’s wise to accept that you can’t change the situation, then choose to stop worrying about it. There’s no reason to worry about things you have no control over, anyway.
Make yourself proud by getting out in the fresh air and walking away your worries. Furthermore, having a change of scenery can get your mind off your worries and change your entire perspective. Exercising will not only make your body stronger but also your mind.
17. Become resilient to stress
“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”
― Steve Maraboli
You can become more resilient to stress. Resilience is how effectively you handle negative experiences. Respond to difficult times with the above steps and you’ll become more resilient to stress.
Also, building a resilience to stress will help you avoid the following :
- Stress causes you to gain weight. Cortisol (a stress hormone) causes belly fat to build up.
- It makes your blood stickier which can lead to blood clots.
- Stress can cause you to lose your hair. Telogen effluvium is a stress-related hair loss for up to 3 months after the tough experience.
In the end, when you’re stressed out, remember to use positive self-talk and connect with others. Also, stop worrying about things you can’t control, you’re only wasting your time.
Not to mention, you’re sacrificing your happiness for no reason. So, remember to keep making progress and use these simple methods to decrease your stress levels and get back to enjoying life!
Use these tips whenever your heart starts racing. Remember to accept anything you can’t change. Life is so much easier that way.
Also, control how you react, practice self-compassion, and be more optimistic. Do these things, and you will conquer this harmful emotion.
Leave a comment and let us know how you react to stress!
Subscribe so you get motivation delivered straight to your inbox!
