Most of us, if not all, know that stress is the body’s (physical, mental, and emotional) response to a challenging event. It is a natural and unavoidable part of life; our bodies are well equipped to handle stress in small doses, but too much stress can cause or worsen many serious health problems, including mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety; cardiovascular diseases including heart disease, and high blood pressure and strokes.
Taking care of ourselves will help maintain our physical, mental, and emotional reserves to cope and manage stress. The following are some effective self-care strategies for coping with the stress we face daily:
Get Enough Sleep
Stress and sleep are closely related. Stress can adversely affect sleep quality and duration. And not getting enough sleep can make stress worse. Try to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Practice good sleep hygiene along with de-stress tactics to increase the chances of better sleep.
Take a Warm Bubble Bath
Stress causes the muscles in our bodies to contract. A hot bath can help those muscles to loosen and relax our bodies.
Listen to Relaxing Music
Music is effective for relaxation and stress management. It can be used while you conduct your regular activities, so it doesn’t take time away from your busy schedule.
Practice Meditation
Numerous studies have shown that meditation is an effective stress management tool. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can help restore your calm and inner peace. And we can practice it wherever we are.
Say ‘no’
Are you trying to cram too many activities into too little time? Too many commitments will stress us out. When we don’t really have the time to take on a particular task, be honest about it and gently say no. It may not be the easy way, but it is a path to stress relief.
Establish Your Priorities
Aside from learning to say ‘no’ to being overcommitted, we need to take some time out to prioritize our tasks and do those that are deemed important to us, and delegate those that are at the lowest priority.
Final thoughts
Stress is an ongoing issue that we all must deal with. It’s important to understand that stress doesn’t only come from negative or problematic experiences. Positive experiences can also create considerable stress.