Stress is a normal part of life, but too much of it can wreak havoc on your body. It slowly chips away at your physical and mental health, so if you live with stress overload, it could lead to more serious conditions. Stress also hampers your emotional stability and decision-making. Luckily, there are ways to manage your stress and restore balance in your life.
As any personal wellness coach will tell you, one of the best ways to bring happiness, health, and productivity back to your life is to manage your stress properly. You want to work toward balancing work and personal life, with enough time for fun, family, and relaxation. Effective stress management also teaches you the tools to meet challenges head-on.
Of course, there’s no single way to defeat stress. You might have to experiment with different techniques to find one that works for you.
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Imagine your happy place
You already possess some of the tools you need to manage stress effectively. Now, you just have to harness it. One technique that many people use to reduce stress is guided imagery. The idea is simple: You visualize a place and go there. It could be your favorite museum, your childhood home, the beach, or any other place that brings you happiness.
If you’re new to guided imagery, you might want to start with a recorded guide. Once you’ve gotten a hang of the technique, you can do guided imagery alone. Close your eyes, and begin to build the place you want to go to. Use your different senses to make the scene come alive.
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Engage in physical activity
When everything feels overwhelming, the first thing you probably want to do is to curl into a ball and fall asleep. You should do the opposite. Engaging in physical activity can neutralize much of the stress you feel. You don’t even have to lift heavy weights or run for hours to reap the benefits. Simple activities go a long way in making you feel better and can also serve as a distraction from your anxieties.
You’ll want to work towards exercising for 30 minutes a day. Start with simple activities like talking your dog for a walk, using the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator, or riding a bike instead of driving. Eventually, you’ll progress to more strenuous activities physical activities.
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Plan your schedule
Many people often feel that there aren’t enough hours in a day to finish our to-do lists. You have to understand that it’s perfectly fine to forgo some things to maintain your physical and mental health. You have to prioritize your tasks and inject some order into your everyday life.
Start by listing down all your pending tasks and re-arrange them in order of priority. If the task can be delegated to other people, then do so. You can even filter your list by separating your tasks by urgency: ASAP, within the week, and so on.
These things will help you manage your stress more effectively. Finding the best strategy can take some time, so don’t be afraid to try new things. The important thing is to find one that works for you.
