10 Stress Busting Strategies
Although stress doesn’t feel particularly pleasant, it is our body’s natural response to increased demand on our time or efforts that instigate a change of pace or direction. When under stress, we can choose to either battle through our situation or take ourselves away from it (the fight or flight response).
A stress reaction therefore can offer us the opportunity to listen to our bodies (that may be experiencing a whole array of symptoms, from headaches and muscle tension to anxiety, an upset stomach, disturbed sleep pattern etc) to find healthy ways to manage our stress, or to look at the situations creating the stress in order to devise a better solution to the issue or even to implement a change in our life.
If you find that the situation is not within your control and you are struggling to cope, there are techniques you can use to reduce the level of stress you are experiencing:
Always find some time for you, even a few minutes a day can make a difference. Use this time to do something fun or relaxing.
If you’re having difficulty relaxing, find a breathing technique that works for you, spending time focusing on slowing your breathing has a huge beneficial impact on the body and relaxes the muscles and the mind.
If you struggle to focus, use an image in your mind that exudes relaxation. This could be a holiday you’ve been on, a spa experience you’ve had, or could be entirely imaginary. Tap in to all your senses to really experience the setting in your mind.
Talk to others in your life about your difficulties, the benefits of getting things off your chest can not be underestimated. Talk through your options.
If you’ve nobody you feel you can talk to, write it down, this still allows you to express what’s going on for you and gets it out of your head. You’re then free to do whatever you want with it, rip it up, screw it up, scribble all over it, set fire to it (safely) or tie it to a balloon and send it off with the wind!
Discover the things that distract you from your situation, watching a film, reading, drawing a picture or colouring, taking a walk, exercising, gardening, sports, knitting, meditation, yoga, or spending time with friends etc. The list is endless. Distractions are a good way to focus on something else in order to take time out from the stress in the short-term which will help you cope more easily day to day.
For longer-term stress reduction, consider taking up a regular hobby or class and build this into your life. Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness are great for taking your mind away from stress and helping you focus on the moment, to bring your body and mind back down to basics and set everything else aside for a little while.
Mindfulness and breathing techniques can be used throughout your daily life and will help keep you grounded no matter the circumstances. I’d recommend Alfred James’ online resource at: https://www.pocketmindfulness.com/6-mindfulness-exercises-you-can-try-today/ as a good starting point for including mindfulness in your life.
Bring some fun into your week! Find the child in you and just allow yourself to feel free for a time. Take your adult head off and indulge yourself!
If you find you continue to struggle and feel the need to talk to a professional, do seek help. Sometimes it’s difficult to find the right strategies for you and a therapist will be able to help you build these into your life. It’s okay to ask for help, particularly when you’re finding it difficult to think clearly, courtesy of the stress you’re under.
