3 Ways to Manage Stress

Stress comes in all different forms and affects each and every one of us differently. However, the way to not let stress take over our life is by developing stress relievers through multiple outlets. There's an enormous library out there that explains stress and how it affects our mental and physical state, but a few outcomes are aging, headaches, hair loss, weight loss/gain, our immune system, + more here.

Although the feeling of is inevitable, and we will continue to experience it throughout our various stages in life, we have the power to take control. There may not be a magic spell that's the end-all, there are simple tricks to help make it easier. The first is evaluating the way we react verse respond; take a step back and look at moments when we felt stress and acted in a way we later regretted. Stress can make us irritable and not think straight, which is why we need to find the root of whats causing it and find ways to combat it.

Here are three things I do when I feel stressed:

+WORK OUT: Working out is a huge stress reliever for me, honestly the holy grail in my book. I found whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed, breaking a sweat is a way for me to gain back some mental clarity. Before the pandemic when I was driving to work every day, I would workout 3-4x throughout the week before heading to the office, which helped improve my productivity and focus. However, since I've been working from home like most, some days are a lot more hectic than others, and when I start to feel stressed, I will use my break to go on a bike ride or do at home workout. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “exercise reduces levels of the body's stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body's natural painkillers and mood elevators.”

+TAKE A BREAK: This may sound weird since typically at times when we feel stressed, we're in the moment of it all, but taking a step back is oftentimes the best thing we can do. Whether it's going for a walk, talking to a friend, or taking a break to eat; when we leave the situation for a moment, it allows us to process what's going on and figure out a more efficient way to go about the situation. When I take a step back, it allows me to evaluate the situation with a clear head, think of ways to help fix the problem and prevent them in the future. Although there’s the assumption of breaks being unhealthy, a study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) showed frequent, short breaks throughout the day did not affect a worker’s ability to be productive. Further research shows that frequent breaks help alleviate or prevent musculoskeletal discomfort and eyestrain. (source.)

+ WRITE IT OUT: Making a to-do list is crucial. We get overwhelmed when we feel there's a never-ending list of things to do, but when we write them out, it makes it easier to see the progress we're making. If we don't write it out or talk about it verbally, our mind keeps racing, and we aren't able to think clearly, which is why making a list and keeping track of our progress gets us through the headache, literally. This may not be for everyone to write it out, but journaling allows people to clarify their thoughts and feelings, thereby gaining valuable self-knowledge. It’s also a good problem-solving tool; oftentimes, one can hash out a problem and come up with solutions more easily on paper (source).