Stress management in a fast paced world: Let’s face it, we live in a high stress society in this day and age. We all feel it as we go through our day. Stress is a part of our everyday lives.
Our ever-increasingly fast paced world adds more and more of it onto us. Life can deal us a lot all at once, and finding balance can sometimes be difficult. With that being said, it is essential that we come up with our own methods for stress management.
We all deal with stress from time to time; it’s the cost we pay for riding the ebb and flow of life. But how do you know if you are dealing with too much stress?
Many medical and psychological studies have shown that stress can play a very big role; not just with our mental well-being, but our physical health as well. The mind surely does affect how the body works and functions.
Eastern cultures have adopted this philosophy for many of centuries. Now days, the psychosomatic effects of the mind on the body’s health is becoming more commonly accepted by modern Western medicine.
Research points more and more towards poor state of mind being at the root of many diseases that develop over a long period of time; and stress is the major culprit.
Here’s what HealthyFoodHouse.com has to say about it:
Even though experts constantly talk about it, many people are still unaware of the fact that stress is one of the leading causes of all diseases and health conditions.
It is a really dangerous thing, especially when manifested by some vague symptoms which make it extremely difficult to detect. Yet, remember that it is of high importance to find a way to relax as it is the first step in the prevention of various health issues.
These are the most common signs that you are over stressed:
Sleeping issues
In case your sleep patterns are drastically changed recently, and you do not sleep or sleep too much due to fatigue, you need to make a change in your lifestyle, as you are probably overstressed.
Hair loss
According to Carolyn Jacob, MD, founder and medical director of Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology, “typically, people shed about 100 hairs a day. Most people don’t even notice.
Sometimes, a significant stress of sort may spark a change in your body’s routine physiological functions, and cause a disproportionate number of hairs to go into the resting phase at the same time.
Then three to four months later, sometimes longer, all those resting hairs are shed. The effect can be alarming. The types of events that disrupt the normal hair cycle can be caused by the substantial physiological stresses on your body.”
In the case of a hair loss, make sure you examine your stress levels and discovered the reason for your issues.
Major mood swings
If stress influences your hormone levels, you may experience major mood swings, with drastic differences. Stress may lead to anxiety, addictions, obsessive compulsive disorders and other mental health issues, so make sure you talk to someone or do something to deal with stress and prevent further complications.
Weight fluctuations
Stress may cause sudden weight fluctuations, as it can slow down metabolism, and cause weight gain, and it can also cause appetite loss and weight loss. However, if you experience some of these without some evident reason, you should examine the problem and try a proper treatment.
Credit: www.healthyfoodhouse.com
To know if you are just having a bad day here and there, or if you may be succumbing to too much stress in your life; it helps to take inventory of your day & your mind state.
Knowing the above warning signs of being over stressed helps you recognize what is causing you to stress out. The second part is to develop your own stress management methods. This is very crucial in today’s high stress world.
It doesn’t have to take all day to set yourself at ease. There are many things you can do to cope with stress in a healthy way.
Here are 7 Stress Management Methods for Instant Relief:
They’ll help you relax, and get yourself back on center quickly.
1. Take 5
When you are stressed out, one problem leads to another. If you don’t take a few minutes to take a step back and reset yourself; your tension will carry on until you do. If you feel tension building up, stop and take a few deep breaths, clear your mind. Once you feel yourself relax, you can continue on your day with a fresh new start.
2. Check Your Attitude
Many times our outlook is what can make or break us. Once again, take a step back, take inventory on your thoughts. What is bothering you? Is it really that important, or worth getting worked up over? Can you look at things from a better perspective?
You might find there is a simple solution to solve your stress. It’s all about your perspective on things. The things that bother us, only have as much emotional weight as we give to it. Sometimes it’s easier to let the little minor things go.
3. Relax Your Body
It’s awfully hard to feel stressed out when your body is at ease. Once again, the mind effects the body & and the body also effects the mind. Notice how your body feels when you feel the stress come on. It will be tense. You can loosen up the muscles in your body to clear your mind.
If you can, sit down or even lay down. If you’re unable to sit for the moment, standing up works just fine too. Let the muscles in your body relax from head to toe. One part at a time. Take some deep breaths and feel all your cares and concerns lift away as you exhale. Letting your muscles relax more and more with every breath. You will feel the instant stress relief as you exhale.
4. Walk it Out
If you’ve got a 10 or 15 minutes, try going for a walk. It’s a great healthy way to clear your mind and relax your body. Do it somewhere you enjoy; like at the park with your dog or your partner.
5. Read Something
Reading something positive and uplifting can take your mind off of your cares and worries. It will reset your mind to positive as well. So you can enjoy some peace and clarity again. It’s no coincidence that happier, more fulfilled, and more productive people are often readers. Putting positive into your mind, helps you have a brighter day and improves your quality of life.
6. Call Someone
If you are feeling tense or anxious, why not call someone you feel comfortable talking with? Chat with them, take interest in their day. Just hearing their voice on the other end of the phone can set you at ease, brighten your spirit, and put a smile back on your face.
7. Indulge Yourself
Another great from of stress relief is by doing something you really enjoy. Everybody has their own rituals that give them pleasure. Go grab a cup of coffee, listen to some music, work out, or go for a drive. Whatever puts you back into a good mind state. It gives you something to look forward to. Go ahead, treat yourself a little bit. As long as it is a healthy ritual.
Of course, there are countless ways you can find to manage stress. Do what works for you. Your quality of life is important. And one of the most important factors to physical well-being is a good healthy state of mind over the long haul.
Just a quick thought:
It is much easier on you physically and mentally; to be happy, than it is to be unhappy. You want to be happy, don’t you? Don’t wait for a reason; be happy just because. Go ahead, let the light shine through!
