Stress Awareness Month – Our Top Tips To Dealing With Stress

Although stress happens to the best of us, it is important to monitor and keep on top of it. Excessive stress can lead to a number of health problems, from depression to heart disease. However, fortunately there are a number of things that you can do to lower your stress levels. So, in honor of Stress Awareness Month this April 2016, we have got some of our best tips for dealing with and reducing stress.

Get Regular Exercise

Stressful situations increase the level of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol in your body. Physical exercise is a great stress buster because it allows you to release your built up anger and frustration and metabolize the excess stress hormones, restoring your body and mind to a more relaxed state.

Next time you feel stressed, go for a brisk walk in the fresh air. You can incorporate physical activity into your daily routine either before or after work or even at lunchtime. Regular exercise can also improve your quality of sleep, which again, is a great combat to stress!

Get More Sleep

Speaking of sleep, a lack of sleep can be a significant cause of stress. And likewise, stress can also cause a lack of sleep. To combat this cycle, aim to maximize your relaxation before going to sleep. You can do this by: Avoiding caffeine in the evening as this will stimulate your brain. Stop doing any mental work several hours before bed so you give your brain time to relax. Taking a warm bath or reading a relaxing book to tire your eyes and help you forget about the things that are worrying you. You should also aim to go to bed at roughly the same time each night so that your body gets in to a bedtime routine.

Talk To Someone 

Whilst not for all, some people find that just talking to someone can be helpful at reducing stress. This can work by either distracting you from your stressful thoughts, or by releasing some of the anger and tension you have been keeping in. Whether it is a family member, a friend, a colleague or a professional, try to speak to someone when you are stressed.

Manage Your Time

By managing your time, you can prevent and relieve stress by not letting yourself become overburdened by your long list of things to do. To do this, make a list of all the things you need to do, but list them in order of priority and make note of any tasks that you can delegate. By revisiting and making order of a long list of tasks that first started out as overwhelming, you can break it down to more manageable tasks that are spread out and less stressful.

Focus On The Positive

When you are feeling stressed, it is important to take time to recognize all of the positive things surrounding you. Sometimes we concentrate so much on the negative things that we pile up unnecessary stress on to ourselves. By taking time to write a list recognizing all of the positive things around you, you can take your mind off of the negative and relieve stress.

Have you got any other top tips for dealing with stress? We would love to hear what works for you.