How To Manage Stress

Definition of Stress

Stress is a state of being under abnormal pressure. This pressure is caused by various aspects of our daily life. Argument with a loved one, added workload, financial problems, etc. are some examples of pressure. In addition, stress follows a cumulative effect with stressors piling on top of the other.

During these moments, you may feel upset or scared and your system may trigger a stress response. This can lead to different physical symptoms, alter your current behavior and cause more intense emotions consequently.

Stress affects us physically, mentally and emotionally and in varying degrees.

Signs of Stress

• being worried or anxious
• feeling overwhelmed
• difficulty in concentrating
• changes in mood (mood swings)
• having a short temper (irritability)
• difficulty in relaxing
• feeling constantly sad
• having a low self-esteem
• changes in appetite
• changes in sleeping cycle
• drinking alcohol or using tobacco and illegal drugs just to relax
• experiencing unusual body aches and pains
• having an abnormal bowel movement (diarrhea or constipation)
• being nauseous or dizzy
• loss of sex drive

1. Take note of the consequences of stress.

• Try to trace a relationship between feeling exhausted or ill and the current pressures you’re dealing with then think of healthy ways to lessen the problem.
• Observe physical symptoms such as muscle tension, fatigue, headaches or migraine.

2. Identify the stressors.

• List the possible causes of your stress into three groups- (1) those with practical solutions, (2) those that get better with time and (3) those you can’t do anything about.
• Consider letting go of your worries of those in second and third groups then exhale deeply.

3. Check your lifestyle.

• Are you taking work or life in general too much?
• Could there be a possible way to hand over extra workload to someone else?
• Can you perform stuff more leisurely?
• To work on the answers to the previous questions, you need to prioritize things in order to re-organize your life. This will help ease the pressure that’s caused from trying to do everything at once.

Steps to Help Prevent Stress

1. Have a balanced diet.

• Eating a healthy diet can lessen the risk of many diseases.
• Certain foods affect our moods and eating healthily can improve this accordingly.
• Take care of your wellbeing by ensuring your diet has adequate levels of brain nutrients such as water, vitamins and minerals.

2. Drink or smoke moderately.

• Reduce the amount of alcohol intake or tobacco use.
• Alcohol and tobacco only make things worse although they initially make you feel good.

3. Exercise regularly.

• Exercising releases endorphins which are happiness booster chemicals that help cope up with pain or stress.
•  A light amount of exercise like stretching helps with relieving muscle tension even so!

4. Learn to take a break.

• Draw a balance between responsibility to others and yourself so you can have more time to relax.
• Prioritize self-care.

5. Be always mindful.

• Practice mindfulness as it helps us manage difficult situations and make wise decisions by paying attention to our thoughts and feelings.
• Meditating regularly is the best example of being mindful.
• Mindfulness, according to research, reduces the effects of stress such as anxiety, poor concentration, insomnia, low moods, anxiety and etc.

6. Get some good sleep.

• Sleeping releases stress in a powerful way. Hence, it calms the mind and body which leads to sharper judgment and improved concentration.
• Moreover, sleep makes you a better problem solver and gives you a lighter mood as well.

7. Don’t beat yourself up.

• Keep things in perspective so you can have everything in check.
• Put in mind that having a bad day is normal and it’s okay.
• If you fail, get better next time but don’t be too hard on yourself.
• Be your own best friend- supportive, understanding and kind.
• Take the time to be grateful and appreciative of yourself.

Information is everything.

Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send you a message once a month with valuable industry updates. One more way to stay ahead of the competition. Visit us at www.tncllc.net or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.