10 Ways to Combat Stress
H.E Mavis Amankwah BEM UN Ambassador - Award Winning Serial Entrepreneur
Experienced Public Speaker and Diversity & Funding Specialist with a proven track record of raising over ￡18.5 million for CICs, charities, & social enterprises.
This month has been stress awareness month, so I am going to talk about some of the best ways to combat stress. Stress is a completely natural thing and something that we all experience to greater or lesser extents however, it is important we learn how to cope with it. For some of us, stress can really impact our mood or our day but it is good to learn different ways to combat it and make sure it does not get on top of us.
Here are 10 ways to try and deal with stress:
- Talk it out
They say a problem shared is a problem halved and honestly, this can often be the case. Whether it is talking to the person causing you the stress to try and solve the issue or even just talking to a friend or family member to make you feel less alone they might be able to help.
2. Write things down
It is never good to bottle your stress up but sometimes you might not feel/be able to talk about it with someone so writing it down is the next best thing. You can write about what it is that’s stressing you out, and it may not seem as big when it is on the page in front of you. Moreover, you can write down ways to solve what it is that is stressing you out or even do a pro/con list if that could help ease your stress.
3. Go for a walk
Exercise is a great way to pump up your endorphins and reduce stress and even going for a relaxed walk can help. Getting outside in the fresh air is a great way to clear your head and take your mind off what is going on too.
4. Watch/read something
Maybe you love losing yourself in the pages of someone else’s life or maybe you have a go-to TV show/film that can never fail to make you laugh. Whatever it is, find some time in your day to dedicate to that. Even if it is just half an hour of reading or a 20-minute episode it is bound to lift your mood and hopefully reduce some of the stress you are feeling.
5. Cuddle your pet
Obviously, this is a slightly more niche one and you may not have a pet to cuddle but if you do it is a great way to reduce stress. Animals have been proved to help with stress. Go and sit with your cat/dog/rabbit or whatever it is you own and hug them.
6. Listen to music
Similarly, watching or reading something, listening to music is a great way to release some stress. Put on your favourite feel-good songs and have a sing and dance around your bedroom. It doesn’t matter if you sound awful or have no rhythm, all that matters is you’re having fun!
7. Relaxation techniques
There are many relaxation techniques available that some people find extremely helpful. The same thing won’t work for everyone but there are so many options out there you are bound to find something that works for you. Apps like Headspace are available too, which offers “Meditation Techniques for Mindfulness, Stress Relief & Peace of Mind”.
8. Sleep
Now, I understand that you can’t just sleep in the middle of the day or your stress might even be keeping you up at night, but it is important to try and get a good night’s sleep when you are feeling stressed. Sleep and stress go hand in hand. Too much stress can overwhelm you and tire you out and not enough sleep can cause you to feel irritable and even more stressed.
9. Breathe
I know this might sound obvious but sometimes we forget to just take a moment to just breathe. Make sure you do that.
10. Don’t be too hard on yourself
We all get stressed; we all struggle to cope sometimes, and we all need help occasionally. Don’t beat yourself up about it and remember you are not alone. It is important to be kind to others, but it is also important to be kind to ourselves. Treat yourself, have a pamper day, go out for a meal, hang out with friends, whatever it is do something for yourself! Don’t be too hard on yourself and remember even if today didn’t go as planned tomorrow could be amazing, we’re all doing the best we can.
These ten points are just suggestions some might work for you, some might not sadly there is no one way to stop us from getting stressed. It is important to remember though it will pass, even if, at the moment you feel as if you will be stressed forever this is not the case. Eventually, the stress will fade, and you may even find yourself wondering what all the fuss was about t