According to the American Institute of Stress, 77% of people have stress that affects their physical health and 73% of people say their stress affects their mental health. I know I have felt so much stress that I have not been able to get out of bed, it is overwhelming and all consuming. Not one person’s stress looks like the next person’s stress and rarely do people have the same stressors. I have seen peoples’ stress show up similarly to mine where they lose all motivation. I have seen people have a lack of focus and will jump from one thing to the other, never finishing one task. I have seen peoples’ stress show itself with food, from overeating to undereating to only eating junk food. Stressors can come from anywhere from work stress to life stress to trying to live up to all the people on social media, we are always feeling stress from somewhere for various reasons. I believe stress is quickly becoming if not already one of the biggest issues facing most of us. I believe the key to handling stress is how we cope with it.
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- Breathe: 1 minute of slow deep breaths can relieve tension.
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- Change in mindset: By listing 3 things you are grateful for in your life, you will start to feel the gratitude and it will help change your mindset to be more positive.
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- Take time for yourself: Taking 5 minutes to just be with yourself and reflect on your own thoughts and feelings can help you clear some space in your mind to tackle the task or issues that are stressing you out.
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- Go outside: Disconnecting from technology and listening to birds and trees can help you feel more grounded and clear your mind of the chaos.
- Exercise: Exercise is the magic ingredient in my eyes, not only does it help you feel more confident it also forces you to breathe and take some time for yourself.