How To Deal With Stress

I don't think there is enough emphasis on stress and how it affects your body and health. In a world where we are quarantined, have more regulations on what we can do, and there is so much negativity, stress levels can be super high. Personally, it has taken its toll on me and you may have been feeling it a little too.

Being stressed can lead to more serious issues. It can lead to depression, mental health issues, weight gain/loss, and so much more. I am not a doctor so if you feel like stress could be affecting your well-being I would suggest speaking to a healthcare provider. There is no shame in having stress or it leading to other challenges. The key is recognizing it and getting help when needed. With that said, there are a few things that help us balance stress levels.

Sleep is Extremely Important

The recommendation is 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Not only is it important to get over 7 hours, but you also want to make sure the quality of your sleep is on point.

Matt and I both wear Fitbits which tell us the amount of sleep we get along with time awake, REM, light, and deep sleep. Below are examples of the sleep stages:

• REM: Rapid Eye Movement typically occurs late at night and is important for memory and mood. You may relate REM sleep to vivid dreams. REM should make up 25% of your sleep.

• Light: This makes up half of your night's sleep. It is light sleep that promotes mental and physical restoration.

• Deep: Helps with physical recovery and aspects of memory and learning. This should be 25% of your sleep.

I strive for 8 hours of good quality sleep a night. Below are a few things I do to help my sleep:

• Stay clear of caffeine after a certain time. I normally have my small cup of coffee in the morning and that is it.

• Reading a book. I like the old-fashioned kind you can hold in your hand and feel the pages between your fingers. When I am struggling to fall asleep I grab a book.

• Avoid drinking any fluids past 8 pm. I am up several times a night to use the bathroom. If I stop drinking beverages by a certain time, this helps limit my trips to the bathroom at night.

• I get outside first thing in the morning and let the sun hit my face. I take deep breaths and prepare for my day. This gives me my Vitamin D, but getting out into the natural sun first thing will help with your circadian rhythm. It also helps with immune health and reduces stress.

Communication is Key

I've noticed I feel more stressed when I keep everything bottled up inside or I feel like I don't have anyone to talk to about how I feel. If you don't feel like you can confide in a partner or friend you can always speak to a counselor. Thankfully where we work offers free counseling sessions. Check with your employer to see if this is an option, but there are places online that offer it for free as well.

If you aren't comfortable talking to anyone about how you feel, try keeping a journal. This has helped me a ton. I take a few moments every week to write my feelings down in a journal.

Find a Hobby

Finding a hobby is the perfect way to keep stress at bay. Find something that excites you and takes your mind off of things that cause stress. I like to work out, read, write, and practice music or archery to help take my mind off stressful situations.

Take a Break From Technology

Within the last year or so I have been so consumed with social media and making sure I am posting content to help gain a following. Recently, I've noticed that getting on social media has made me stressed out and almost depressed. Not only did it consume me, but I started to go down a dark hole of negativity. Recognizing this stressed me out helped me realize that I needed to take a break from it all. Since taking a break from it, I have not only felt more connected to things around me, but I've also felt relieved. I don't miss it at all.

Previously, when I unlocked my phone I automatically opened Instagram without even thinking. I still have the app on my device, but I haven't once almost opened it. It's almost like a free feeling. If you notice that social media makes you a little stressed or you get lost in comments or find yourself in the same boat I was in I suggest taking a break. It has helped me a lot!

Get Moving

Legally Blonde taught us that "exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy" and she wasn't wrong. Getting a good sweat sesh in or even taking a quick walk helps you burn calories, but is also a good way to release those pleasure endorphins that help with stress. Not feeling a sweaty workout session? Try yoga. Yoga can be very relaxing and stress relieving. Just make sure to focus on your breathing throughout.

Perspective is Everything

If I am nervous about a meeting or an event coming up I stop to think about the why? Why is this making me nervous? Lots of times what it boils down to is that I am fearful of the unknown. In these instances, I always tell myself that whatever the event is or whatever meeting I am worried about isn't really going to affect me in the next 5 years or 1 year, heck I may not even be thinking about it within the next day so why do I let it affect me? Also, whatever happens at this event is what is supposed to happen in my life to put me exactly where I need to be.

If something doesn't go my way in life or I am faced with some type of adversity I tell myself this is exactly the moment I am meant to be in for whatever reason. I am a huge believer that everything happens for a reason. I know that If I don't get the response I was looking for or what I wanted out of something there is something better for me. This has especially been true looking back at my life. There was once a job I really wanted. I interviewed and thought I killed it. I thought that was the best interview I'd ever had. I ended up not getting the role and getting one with another company. I am still at this other company to this day, had quite a few promotions, and met the love of my life. If I had gotten the job I wanted at the time, it wouldn't have been the right path for me and I am so much happier than I realized I would be at the time.

Try to take a step back and change your perspective. It can make a huge difference.

I hope these tips were helpful. Let me know what you do to relieve stress in the comments.