How to deal with stress and decompress right now

Stress is everywhere, everyone experiences it and everyone deals with it differently. Last week, we talked about some common ways that people deal with stress that may not help alleviate the pressure of stress; in fact, these methods may actually help you hang on to it and may even affect your health. The negative ways to handle stress include:

·         Ignoring the problem

·         Obsessing

·         Blowing things out of proportion

·         Drinking

·         Smoking

·         Sleeping too much

·         Emotional eating

Learning how to cope with the stress in your life can help your overall health and your outlook on life. Here are some common ways that people deal with stress that help them to handle it and de-stress right now.

Get some fresh air

Research indicates that the vitamin D boost from sunlight may elevate your levels of feel-good serotonin. And, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells around you redirects your focus from your worries.

Stick to your routine

When stressful situations arise, it helps to stick to your daily routine. What that includes is up to you: taking your dog for a walk; listening to your favorite tunes on the commute home; taking a bath before bed. Following a routine gives you a sense of control over your day and can help alleviate some of the anxiety and tension.

Get out of your head

Thinking about your situation constantly is called “rumination,” and it is a negative way to handle stress. One of the best ways to cope is to do something that forces you to focus on your hands and body. Engaging in familiar, rhythmic activities gives you a sense of control that can help you relax.

Visualization

Whether you call it guided imagery, meditation or “going to your happy place,” it is a great way to help deal with any stress you may be feeling. It’s quite simple to do. Find a quiet space, close your eyes and regulate your breathing. Focus on the picture where you feel absolute calm – a beach, mountains, forest, or your grandparents’ living room – and just let yourself go there for a few minutes.

Take a bath

This can be part of your routine, but soaking in a nice, warm bath is soothing and comforting. Couple the bath with soothing music and aromatherapy. Jasmine and lavender are shown to have stress-reducing properties.

Express gratitude

Research has shown that people who exhibit gratefulness increase the activity in the hypothalamus, and had increased levels of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good. Writing in a journal, sending thank you notes, paying it forward by buying a stranger coffee, or tipping extra at dinner are ways to give yourself a little stress-relieving jolt of gratitude.

Getting some exercise

Exercise is the healthiest way to relieve stress. It increases your endorphins, helps regulate your sleep, alleviates mild depression, increases your energy, and helps you remain calm and more focused, all while helping your cardiovascular health.

The important thing is to address the issue, get help if you need it, and maintain balance. Dealing with stress is an absolute necessity. Learning to deal with it in a good way goes a long way to enhancing your overall health and wellbeing