November is the month to celebrate the international Stress Awareness Day, as declared by the International Stress Management Association. Last year, 62% of the global population said that stress affected their daily lives at least once and medical research estimates as much as 90% of illness and disease is stress-related. This is a very concerning topic that dominates our daily lives so this month we want to raise awareness and share five tips to manage stress.
Practice deep breathing
Taking deep breaths for five seconds can help activate your nervous system to rest, reducing the overall stress and anxiety you may be experiencing. Deep breathing is a great way to reduce the activation of your sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body’s response to a perceived threat.
Maintain a good nutrition and regular physical exercise
Physical exercise and good nutrition are two important tools because when your body is healthy, your mind will follow and vice versa. When we’re overwhelmed, we often forget to eat well and resort to using sugary, fatty snack foods as a pick-me-up so try to avoid all that and plan ahead. It is very well known physical exercise is proven to be a great stress reliever and also helps to improve your overall quality of life. It doesn’t necessarily mean power lifting at the gym or training for a marathon. A short walk around the office or simply standing up to stretch during a break at work can offer immediate relief in a stressful situation. Getting your blood moving releases endorphins and can improve your mood almost instantaneously.
Manage social media time
Social media is something to avoid in stressful situations because it can make you feel even more nervous, especially at night, which might disrupt your sleep. Instead, make time for yourself, go outside enjoying the weather, read a great book or simply take a break to call a friend and talk about your problems. Good relationships with friends and loved ones are important to any healthy lifestyle. A reassuring voice, even for a minute, can put everything in perspective.
Listen to music
Music can lower blood pressure and quite often has a positive effect on our brain and body. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a stressful situation, try taking a break and listening to relaxing music or any other sounds you may feel comfortable with. Some like it classic, some like nature or ocean sounds, whatever works for you.
Be mindful
So far, most of the tips we’ve suggested provide immediate relief but there are also many lifestyle changes that can be more effective in the long run. At Corc Yoga, of course we will suggest a relaxing Yoga Class but there is a whole world regarding this issue. The concept of “mindfulness” is a large part of meditative and somatic approaches to mental health and has become popular over the years. Join a class and maybe give it a try – Meditation, Pilates or Tai Chi – these systems of mindfulness incorporate physical and mental exercises that prevent stress from becoming a problem.
