Are you feeling overwhelmed with stress? Do you feel like you can't get a break? Do you find yourself constantly worrying about things that may or may not happen? If so, don't worry, you're not alone. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “stress is now considered to be America's #1 health problem.” So, what can we do about it? In this post, I'm going to share some of my favorite stress management techniques for optimal happiness. Keep reading to learn more!
Techniques for Stress Management
- Identify your stressors and find healthy ways to manage them– sit down and take 5-10 minutes to brain dump all of your stressors. (A brain dump is simply writing anything that comes to your mind during the exercise.) Do not censor yourself as whatever pops into your mind might lead you to identifying one of your stressors.
- So you've identified your stressors, now it's time to find healthy ways of dealing with them. For example, exercise is a great stress reliever and can help you sleep better at night. Take each stressor and determine at least one healthy way you can deal with them. Don't forget that sometimes delegating or asking for help is the quickest way to handle stress.
- Take some time for yourself every day, even if it's just 10-15 minutes. This is where you're typically told to take a bath, paint your nails, do a face mask, etc. Well I'm not your typical self care coach. I want you to take 10-15 minutes to do things that will truly benefit your well being either emotionally, physically or intellectually. If you're looking for ideas on how to do this, check out my blog post all about self care by clicking here.
- Exercise regularly – it releases endorphins that help improve your mood. You should exercise whether you're feeling good or bad. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which help improve your mood and overall health. And before you jump all over me for not honoring how your body feels or listening to your body's needs, let me identify what exercise means. It simply intentionally moving your body. This could look like intentional stretching, yoga or a HIIT workout. The exercise you choose is up to you but it's important to keep you body moving because we all know Newton's law- a body at rest stays at rest. Okay- so that might not be his actual law but it definitely applies.
- Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. You don't have to spend a fortune on organic produce, just be sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables in their natural state. It's the best way to get the nutrients you need for your body. Avoid processed foods as much as possible and take the whole food option as often as you can.
- Connect with loved ones and friends – social support is crucial for happiness. You know, there's a lot of evidence that shows that the stronger your social support network is, the happier you are. I think it's important to make time for your friends and family – and let them know how much they mean to you.
- Practice deep breathing or meditation to calm the mind and body. I'm a big fan of meditation and deep breathing. It helps you relax, keep your cool, and think clearly. And the best part? You can do it anywhere!
Managing stress is one of the most important things we can do for our happiness and well-being. And luckily, there are a lot of great techniques that we can use to help us manage our stress levels. In this post, we’ve shared some of our favorite ways to reduce stress quickly and easily. But managing stress isn’t a one-time event – it’s something that we need to work on every day. That’s why I want to invite you to join me for my free workshop for Managing Stress Like a Boss. In this workshop, I will share more tips and strategies for managing your stress!