Stress is an indelible part of life. No matter how hard you try to get away from stressful or tense situations, there is always going to be something that bugs and frazzles you.
Whether it is an argument with your partner, an upcoming deadline, a choleric boss or client, or financial trouble, stress is going to find you and pump up your blood pressure to new heights.
When we get stressed, our body gets flooded with a hormone called cortisol, which elicits a “flight or fight” response. If that happens in any of the above-mentioned situations rather than in a life-threatening situation, your body and mind can end up developing chronic troubles such as headaches, hypertension, anxiety, and depression. These are just the initial side-effects, things can get pretty serious for your health if you are under prolonged stress.
Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate stress and deal with the daily ups and downs of your life. Go ahead and de-stress yourself:
- Go for a Walk
When your body generates a flight and fight response, it wants to do something to protect you. However, there is nothing life-threatening about a situation when your boss is yelling at you. When your body cannot act on its flight or fight response, you will feel the onslaught of stress and tension.
So it’s recommended that you go for a 10-minute walk and get away from the situation for a while. Walking helps clear your mind and release endorphins, the hormones that fight stress.
It is better if you choose a green space for your power walk as it can put your body in a state of meditation, which allows you to distract yourself while also provide room for reflection.
- Chew a Gum
According to a 2008 study presented at the International Congress of Behavioral Medicine, chewing a pack of gum can help deal with your anxiety, breathe easier, and boost your alertness.
During times when you are full of stress, you would notice that you feel the urge to eat more food, unhealthy one at that, which might temporarily de-stress you, but in the long run only serves to raise your cholesterol level, weight gain, and open up a whole different can of worms.
Chewing a piece of gum could help with stress eating and its consequences.
- To Use the Screen or Not
While it can be hard to step away from your screen, particularly when it offers stellar connectivity with Mediacom Internet in your cities like spectrum service in Dallas However, continuous use of screen contributes towards stress, loss of sleep, depression, and anxiety in women. Research also shows that late-night computer usage puts your mental health at risk.
Some on-screen time could really help with your stress levels, but that screen time ought to be mindful such as watching a funny video or series that makes you laugh out loud.
Laughter releases endorphins, which stimulates your heart, lungs, muscles, and oxygen intake. That’s why you see laughter as part of an exercise program at many parks.
Know when to use the screen or not for the sake of your mental peace.
- Give Yourself a Break — you deserve it!
If your cellphone constant pings are stressing you out, hang up, and give yourself some break from your responsibilities.
Avoid taking your office back to your house and stop constantly paying attention to work-related calls and emails while at home. Even if your boss is being demanding, put your foot down because nothing is more important than your mental health. Just switch off your work phone and laptop when you get home.
Spend time with your loved ones and enjoy a light-hearted movie together. If alone, put on some music as it tends to have a soothing impact on your mind and releases chemicals like dopamine, and enjoy a cup of herbal tea.
Distract yourself and refuse to reminisce about the stressful day at work. Whatever it is, it’s not the end of the world, you will look into it when you are in office. At home, it’s your “me” time. You deserve it no matter how unworthy of it your anxiety might make you think, so enjoy it.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.