Biological stress is a relatively recent discovery, and Hans Selye was the first to identify and document stress. Previously, stress was associated with old age, too much work, or family problems. Mostly, it was age-related, and children were spared from the horrors of stress. The same cannot be said today.
Nowadays, age is not the primary factor for stress, and you’ll find children as young as ten or eleven reeling under the pressures of having to cope with stress regularly. However, stress during the teenage years is a different ball game, and adults feel it all too well.
So, regardless of your age or what issues bother you, here are some effective hacks to relieve stress so you can live a great life.
Share it with a Friend or Confidant
If you feel too anxious, it is best to talk it out with a friend or confidant. You can take a break, pick up the phone and call your friend. Discuss your problems. The reassuring voice of your loved ones can put things in perspective and calm you.
Maintaining good relationships with friends and family is critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You’ll realize that talking and sharing your problems with your close ones is all you need to feel better.
Change Your Diet
Nutritious diet and stress levels are closely related. When overwhelmed, you might forget to eat well and turn to fatty, sugary snack foods. These pick-me-up food items do more damage than good. You must avoid such unhealthy snacks and stick to eating vegetables and fruits, fish with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, etc. These food items are known to decrease the symptoms of stress.
Play Games
Distraction is one of the best ways to cope with stress. If you feel overwhelmed, turn your attention to something fun, like playing mobile games. For instance, you can play Spider Solitaire on your mobile whenever you feel stressed. The game is about rearranging and assembling the cards descendingly and sending the finished builds to the foundation deck. The match sessions last five minutes, and you can engage in 1V1 or 1VN intense matches. Cash rewards are also up for grabs if you can beat the other participants in the 1VN tournaments.
As you focus on moving the cards from one column to the next, your worrying thoughts will dissipate.
Similarly, you can play other games like Block Puzzle, Tetris, Flow Free, Bubble Wrap, etc. All these are stress-busting games.
Listen to Music
Taking a break and listening to calming music is one of the best ways to overcome stress. Playing soothing music is known to create positive effects on the body and mind. For example, it helps to reduce cortisol and lower blood pressure.
If you have no particular music in mind, you can listen to nature or ocean sounds.
Drink Tea Instead of Alcohol
When stressed, most people turn to alcohol, but that’s not the solution. Instead, you must drink tea. You are also recommended to avoid coffee because a large dose of caffeine can cause a short-term spike in blood pressure.
Drink green tea because it contains less than half the caffeine and healthy antioxidants. Also, it calms the nervous system.
Get Enough Sleep
Stress might cause you to lose sleep. Unfortunately, if you don’t get enough sleep, it might be the reason why you are feeling stressed. It is a vicious cycle that must be broken before things get worse. You must get at least seven to eight hours of sleep. Before bed, dim the lights, don’t fidget with your electronic devices, turn off the TV and relax.
Watch Comedy Shows to Laugh it off
Laughter is the best medicine for stress. It releases endorphins that reduce the levels of stress-causing hormones and improves mood. In addition, laughing will trick your nervous system into thinking you are happy.
You can watch some hilarious comedy shows like Big Bang Theory, Office or maybe attend stand-up comedy events to get yourself cackling.
Exercise
Training for a marathon or powerlifting at the gym isn’t the only kind of exercise. For example, you can walk around your neighborhood or stretch during work. Such activities can provide immediate relief from stress and make your body release endorphins and improve your mood.
Don’t cut off Your Pleasurable Activities
People often cut off their pleasurable activities when life becomes overwhelming. You must not make the same mistake. It proves counterproductive to stop doing what gives you pleasure. So, it would be best if you found time to continue with your reading or watch your favorite Netflix shows. You must go for that holiday you were planning or start learning a new language.
Meditate
Mindful meditation can help reduce anxiety and stress. Even if you meditate for five minutes and focus on your breathing, it will help you let go and gain control of your life.
Don’t Hesitate to Seek Help
When things get too much, and you feel you are spinning out of control, do not hesitate to seek help. Seek a psychologist, therapist, or other mental health provider and get professional help on how you can manage your stress effectively.
The Bottom Line
Taking the stress out of the equation is the only way to improve the quality of your life and live a healthy lifestyle. Try out these hacks mentioned above to gain control of your life.
