No matter who you are or where you’re at in life, stress likely affects you from time to time. Stress means you’re under pressure, you’re feeling overwhelmed, and you’re not sure how to cope. When stress becomes your shadow, your health can start to suffer. High rates of stress are linked to increased blood pressure, anxiety, sleep issues, and depression. On top of your health, your relationships can hurt, too—stress significantly shortens your fuse.
If keeping your job, family, and social life in balance—an increasingly complex feat, these days—leaves you feeling chronically stressed out, you can practice a little bit of self-care and pay it forward to your future self by learning how to overcome stress.
7 Steps to Overcome Stress
1. Find a relaxation technique that works for you
It’s true that when you practice yoga, focusing on your breathing and moving through different poses can reduce your heart rate and make you more resilient to stress.
If you’re not too sure about yoga, there are many other ways to calm your mind and body. Progressive relaxation—tensing and relaxing your muscles starting from your fingers and working your way down your body to your toes—is a tactic to overcome stress you can try easily on your own.
2. Carve out a guilt-free moment for yourself
Research shows that listening to music can trigger the release of stress-relieving chemicals in your brain. Besides helping you overcome stress note-by-note, chances are good that if you take a minute to listen to your favorite song, your inner self will thank you. Something as simple as hopping into a hot shower after a long day can be a meditative reprieve from overstimulation.
3. Take care of yourself
Getting enough sleep, eating well, and taking short walks can make all the difference if you’re looking to overcome stress. Try to acknowledge and heed your body’s needs, even when it seems like you don’t have the time. You’ll probably find that you’re sharper, more efficient, and more enthusiastic when it comes to getting your work done.
4. Join a community
Whether you join a church or a Frisbee league, connecting with others over shared goals and interests can help alleviate feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and stress. Being a part of a community can make all the difference when things in your life seem to be going haywire and you need someone to fall back on.
5. Take on a fun project
If you’re stressed, you probably feel like there’s just too much going on upstairs. You can start releasing all that tension by using your hands. Start a painting or build a table. Work with Play-Doh. Focusing your energy on a tangible project is a great way to get you out of your head and feeling better about life.
6. Start a journal
When stress becomes chronic, it might be time to start looking at underlying factors in your life. What’s really bothering you? Journaling can be a great way to sort through and gain insight into your inner world. Keeping a journal also helps when it comes to counting your blessings—something that can be hard to do when you’re feeling low.
7. Disconnect
Between your phone, tablet, computer, and social media accounts, you might start to feel guilty for disconnecting. Tuning out for even a few minutes and getting outside can help you regain a sense of calm. Getting out of your sphere puts your worries into perspective. Going for a walk with a good friend might help you feel a sense of real connection you’ve been missing in the race between home, work, and social responsibilities.
