Stress is experienced by several people from different walks of life. It has caused several health hazards. How to “lessen my stress”? This is an often-asked query by all and sundry.
Many people deal with stress, on the whole, every day. Work, family issues, health concerns, and also financial obligations are parts of everyday life that commonly contribute to heightened stress levels.
Several daily strategies can indeed help to keep stress at bay: Try relaxation activities, like meditation, yoga, tai chi, breathing exercises as well as muscle relaxation. Programs are available online, in smartphone apps, and also at several gyms along with community centers. Taking good care of one’s body each day is important.
Factors such as genetics, level of social support, coping style, as well as personality type influence a person’s vulnerability to stress, meaning that few people are more likely to become stressed than others.
It is important to understand that stress is not the same as mental health disorders such as anxiety as well as depression, which do require treatment from medical professionals.
Table of Contents
How to lessen my stress?
1. Getting more physical activity
If a person is feeling stressed, moving one’s body consistently may indeed help. It is felt that aerobic exercise 2 days per week regularly reduces overall perceived stress as well as perceived stress due to uncertainty. Also, the exercise routine significantly improved self-reported depression.
Many other studies have indeed shown that engaging in physical activity does help reduce stress levels and also improves mood, while sedentary behavior may rather lead to increased stress, poor mood, as well as sleep disturbances.
Regular exercise improves symptoms of common mental health conditions such as anxiety as well as depression. If presently inactive, start with gentle activities such as walking or biking. Choosing an activity that a person enjoys may indeed help increase one’s chances of sticking to it in the long term.
2. Follow a healthy diet
The diet affects every aspect of one’s health, including one’s mental health.
Following a diet high in ultra-processed foods and added sugar are more likely to experience higher perceived stress levels.
Being chronically stressed may indeed lead to overeating more and reaching for highly palatable foods, which can harm one’s overall health as well as mood.
If not eating sufficient nutrient-dense whole foods it could lead to an increased risk of deficiencies in nutrients that are essential for regulating stress as well as mood, such as magnesium and B vitamins.
Minimizing one’s intake of highly processed foods as well as beverages and also eating more whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, fish, nuts, as well as seeds can indeed help ensure that one’s body is properly nourished. This helps improve one’s resilience to stress.
3. Minimize phone use and screen time
Smartphones, computers, as well tablets are an unavoidable part of everyday life for several people. While these devices are indeed often necessary, making use of them too often may indeed increase stress levels.
Spending too much time in front of screens in general is linked with lower psychological well-being as well as increased stress levels in both adults as well as kids. After all, screen time may indeed negatively affect sleep, which may also cause increased stress levels.
4. Consider supplements
Several vitamins, as well as minerals, do play an important role in one’s body’s stress response as well as mood regulation. Any deficiency in one or even more nutrients may indeed impact mental health as well as the ability to cope with stress.
Certain dietary supplements tend to reduce stress and improve mood. If chronically stressed, the magnesium levels may become depleted.
This mineral does play an important role in one’s body stress response, and its intake is necessary. It reduces stress levels.
5. Practice self-care
It is good to set aside time for self-care to reduce one’s stress levels. Follow these guidelines:
- Going for a walk outside
- Taking a bath
- Lighting candles
- Reading a good book
- Preparation of a healthy meal
- Exercising
- Stretching before bed
- Getting a massage
- Practicing a hobby
- Making use of a diffuser with calming scents
- Practicing yoga
Self-care improves the quality of life.