Is stress impacting your ability to manage daily tasks? Stress is a natural part of life and can even help you accomplish things. It’s also normal to experience high levels of stress during significant events such as the loss of a loved one, painful life changes including divorce, carer stress, job loss, or serious illness.
However, if stress lingers for several weeks or begins to interfere with your life, it’s important to consider stress management techniques for a healthier lifestyle. There are various approaches to managing stress. In this blog, we share tips to help you keep stress at bay.
What Is Stress Management
Some days, it may feel like there’s nothing you can do about stress, and no de-stressing techniques seem to work. Family and work can be demanding, and the bills keep piling up. However, you can definitely take control and reduce stress.
Stress management involves taking charge of your emotions, environment, schedule, thoughts, and how you navigate life’s challenges. The goal is to create a balance between all aspects of your life—work, relationships, family, and leisure. It’s also about learning how to remain composed under pressure.
Not every method of stress management works for everyone, so it’s important to experiment and find the approach that works best for you.
5 Tips to Manage Stress
- Deep Breathing
Breathing exercises are highly effective for stress management. It’s important to breathe deeply into your belly rather than shallow breathing, which indicates that your body is still under stress.
Learning a few breathing exercises from a licensed health expert can be beneficial, helping you cope more easily in stressful situations.
Regular Exercise
Physical activity and regular exercise are excellent ways to relieve short-term stress. Being active releases feel-good hormones called endorphins, which quickly alleviate stress.
Exercise also addresses the physical consequences of stress over the long term. Be mindful not to exercise too close to bedtime, as it can disrupt your sleep. However, exercising during the day improves heart health and overall wellness.
You might enjoy activities like Tai Chi, yoga, or simply running. The key is to find an exercise you enjoy.
- Balanced Diet
Poor diet choices can exacerbate stress. Foods high in refined carbohydrates may offer temporary emotional relief, but they contribute to stress in the long run. Refined carbohydrates, such as potato chips and cookies, can cause your blood sugar to spike, which directly increases anxiety and stress levels. Switching to a balanced diet with foods like walnuts, avocado, and eggs can help reduce long-term stress.
- Shifting to a Positive Mindset
We all engage in self-talk, whether positive or negative. Negative self-talk, however, increases stress levels. With practice, you can shift from a negative mindset to a positive one. For example, instead of saying “I’m alone and helpless,” try saying “I can reach out to my loved ones if I need support.” Practising positive self-talk daily can significantly reduce stress.
- Meditation
Meditation practice is a powerful time tested method for stress management and development of mental resillience. There are various forms of meditation, each offering unique benefits.
You could try mindfulness meditation by focusing on being in the moment, taking slow, deep breaths, or repeating a positive mantra in your mind. Paying close attention to what you hear, smell, taste, or touch can also bring quick relief during moments of panic.
How Nawa Wellness Can Help You
If you or someone you love is struggling with extreme stress or battling with depression, follow our stress management techniques for a healthier life.
At Nawa Wellness, we follow a holistic approach to treating stress. Our retreat’s treatment methods involve psycho therapy, holistic interventions and personalised treatment plans.
Call us at 0428 615 211, email us at recover@nawawellness.com.au, or fill out our online contact form for a consultation with us.