(ThyBlackMan.com) Stress is an unavoidable part of life. We can experience it at home, work, with family, or even in the grocery store or a restaurant. However, when we understand ourselves in regards to stress we can manage it. Stress can be an underlining cause to mental and physical illness, and it can ruin ones’ quality of life. Allowing stress to run one’s life unchecked can also take a toll on our family and friends. When one is in tuned with their body and understand how their emotions process stress it can be argued that we can deflect it before it takes up residency in our body and mind.
Managing stress is not about doing one thing well, it is about creating a system that works for you. No area of your being can be neglected or that is the area that stress will affect. Granted, no one is perfect so we are constantly learning how to better care for our overall wellness, but there are some concrete things we can do to live a
stress free, or at least contained, lifestyles. The following are a few things you can do to get started on your stress-free path.
1. You must get adequate sleep. This may seem cliché to us because it seems there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. However, the body and the mind need restoration. When you are rest broken this alone is stress on the body and mind.
2. Eat right, and eat enough. Stress can make some lose their appetite so they are missing meals and starving the body. While others tend to over indulge in comfort food. Both extremes are unhealthy, and they don’t relieve stress…they create additional health challenges hence more stress. Eat as healthy as possible to give your body the energy and nutrients it needs to perform at optimum levels.
3. Exercise regularly. Spending time in the gym will give you a change to burn some energy, and some steam. Working out will also release chemicals and endorphins that will help lift your mood. The act of exercising is also a productive distraction taking your focus away from the source of the stress. For some working out clears the mind which kills the stress.
4. Consider a form of meditation. This could be sitting in a quiet space performing controlled breathing exercises which would allow your mind to slow down. You could also stretch which is good for your muscles, but it is also relaxing.
5. Prepare for your day in advance. When you are prepared ahead of time you decrease the stress and strain of worry. It may cause you to do a few more things before you go to be, or wake up a bit earlier, but in feeling prepared you usher in calmness.
6. Try not to worry about things that are not within your control. Sometimes you must let matters work themselves out while doing what you are responsible for. This may seem uncomfortable but letting go the anxiety of needing to be in control even when the situation doesn’t all such will alleviate a lot of stress.
You don’t have to submit to stress while letting it ruin your day, and your health. Rest, spend time working out, take a walk and let your surroundings sooth you. Let go of the need to control every single thing because that isn’t realistic and your body can’t handle the strain. Stress, if unchecked, can become a silent force that ushers illness into your life. Give yourself the permission to be healthy and happy.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
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