Stress causes physical changes to your body, including faster breathing, increased heart rate, higher blood pressure and muscle tension. The longer the stress goes unchecked, the more you are likely to experience the physical symptoms. Finding healthy ways to channel and relieve your stress allows you to cope with trying situations while improving your overall attitude and health.
Coping Mechanisms
Your immediate response to a stressful situation helps keep your overall stress level lower. Using coping methods when difficult situations present themselves can prevent the physical symptoms of stress. Visualize yourself in a calm, peaceful situation, or visualize a satisfactory solution to the situation causing stress. Focus on specific muscle groups, relaxing each area of the body. Breathe deeply as you count or visualize a positive scene. Practice these coping techniques on a regular basis to make them more effective.
Positive Relationships
Positive relationships with others in your life enable you to better handle stress. Spend time with those who support you to recharge yourself and unwind after stressful events. Laughing with those in your support network also aids in stress relief. According to HelpGuide.org, laughing helps reduce stress. Foster those relationships that bring a positive element to your life. Limit your relationships with others who drain your energy or add to your stress.
Enjoyable Activities
Giving yourself time to engage in the activities you enjoy makes you feel more positive overall, helping to reduce your stress. When you fully immerse yourself in enjoyable activities, you often feel less stress and begin to forget about the stressful situations. You are also able to nurture your talents. Set aside time to engage in your hobbies and activities that bring you happiness.
Improved Health
A healthy body is better equipped to handle stressful situations. You also benefit from the overall improved health that makes you stronger with greater endurance. Give your body enough sleep so you don't feel tired, which tends to make you more irritable and less able to handle stressful situations. Improve your diet to include nutritious foods that energize you. Exercise helps you relieve stress and tension while strengthening your body. Skip cigarettes, alcohol and drugs as ways to relieve stress. These items simply cover up the stress temporarily and decrease your health at the same time.
Quiet Time
Quiet time helps you refocus and decompress from stressful situations. Meditation is a common activity used to decrease stress. Yoga is another popular activity that reduces stress and gives you time to connect to your spiritual side. You don't need to participate in an organized quiet-time activity for stress relief. Try sitting next to a creek in the forest or enjoy a rooftop garden for a reprieve from the city stress. Schedule a massage, pedicure or other spa treatment.
