Stress Can Be Harmful

Stress can completely take over your life. It can ruin a not so bad day, it can hinder your focus on the things you have to do, and worst of all, it can affect your overall health.

I have found some ways to deal with my stress (even though I don’t always practice what I preach):

- Take deep breaths and if necessary close your eyes for a few seconds

- Think of your “happy place” and go there in your mind (Mine is the beach or sitting outside with a cup of coffee)

- Go for a walk if time allows. Walking is a perfect way to clear your head, put your thoughts together and refocus

- Go to the gym if time allows and ride the treadmill or Stairmaster

- Call your best friend and just catch up

- Think about what is stressing you and think of reasons that it should not be stressing you and realize that there are so many other things to worry about.

What Triggers Stress

Having a journal handy will also help with stress. Every time you feel stress coming write about it in your journal. After this happens a number of times you can go back over the journal and see what “stress triggers” are most common for you. This may help you avoid stress in the future.

For example, let’s say you get stressed whenever you have to meet with certain people or go to certain appointments. Well, you can pre-think your stress before you go or avoid things that stress you. Of course, you can’t cancel all doctor appointments but maybe you can try to separate them and see when the best time to fit them into your schedule without getting frustrated or stressed.

Once you get a handle on what stresses you, you can write in your journal before you are in this particular situation. Writing about it may actually ease the tension in your stomach, your mind and your possible lack of sleep.

What “Not-to-Do” When Stressed

Sometimes people find a solution to their stress that is unhealthy such as drinking, doing drugs or overeating (not as bad). Knowing if your stress triggers this type of behavior can also help you manage stress in the future.

Keeping an eye on your stress is important so that you don’t turn to bad habits or lifestyles as a coping mechanism.

What Causes Stress

So, what kinds of things cause stress in our lives?

- Money

- Relationships

- Friendship

- Diet frustration

- Society and news

- Children

- Extended family

- Overwork or overscheduling

- Not enough time

- Lack of Ability to Sleep

For me, stress seems to take over at night which often results in not sleeping well which affects my next day and sometimes it’s a continuous domino effect. I try the melatonin, the occasional glass of wine, the journaling… but some nights it doesn’t work. Nighttime is when we think of all the stresses in our life, all the things we have to do, all the things that make us unhappy and the list goes on and on.

Are We A More Stressed Society?

The world has become a crazy place. Politics, wars, division in society are just some of the things that seem to be getting worse every day. So now not only are we worried about all the above triggers but we have what’s going on in the world to add to it. People are lashing out on social media, dropping friends because of different opinions and the world seems a much crazier place than when I grew up.

At the end of the day, we should realize that what is happening with politicians and the world around us should not affect our day-to-day existence. Take time to enjoy family and friends and see the world through calmer eyes. Pretend you are a child learning about the world around them and all the fun they have doing so.

Think about being a child next time you are stressed and take a deep breath. I hope that will help you with your everyday stress triggers. We cannot change the world around us but we can change the way we react to it.

What ways do you deal with stress? Please feel free to leave a comment.

Also, please share my post on social media and with your friends.