7 Best Ways To Manage Stress For Positive Change!

While juggling family/ friends, studies, career, and other responsibilities, it is quite possible to get overwhelmed or feel exhausted or stressed. Common symptoms of stress include fatigue, headache, nausea, stomach pain, weight loss/ gain, panic attacks, and the list goes on.?

It's ok to feel little stress over the matters but the problem arises when it is left unchecked. So it is essential to take care of your mental health to avoid any undesired situation. You can manage your stress by exercising, maintaining your work-life balance, practicing new hobbies, and connecting with others.?

Here are the 7 best ways to manage stress for a positive change so that you can live a less stressful life.?

1# Work out

One of the most effective ways to manage your stress levels is by practicing exercise. According to psychologists, the workout is considered the best stress reliever and plays the same role as antidepressants do in depression.

Furthermore, doing exercise on a daily basis relaxes your body and improves your mood too. Take care of your body so that your mental health could also be healthy.?

Going for a walk while feeling stressed is also the best way to manage your stress. If you want to reduce your stress, take out some time even if it is 30 minutes, to practice any sort of exercise like brisk walks, yoga, tai chi, etc.

Successful people work out 2-3 hours each day which helps them to be physically as well as mentally strong.?

2# Set Healthy Boundaries?

Let's get real. We mostly feel stressed when we are worrying too much about what others will think of us or will we be able to meet the standards of others. We hesitate to say no thinking that it's not appropriate, right?

But to live a less stressful life, you crucially need to set some healthy boundaries like how much time you are willing to spend while helping someone and how close you want to be with someone.?

Especially in the situations when you think you can't help the other person because you have some remaining tasks to do, learn to say no politely. Don't be afraid of being called selfish or rude. Let the other person know that you really want to help them but due to running out of time, you can't.?

You will be amazed to see the consequences of saying no in your daily life as you will feel more relaxed and will be able to find some free time to practice self-care activities like mediation, journaling, self-talk, and so on.?

3# Maintain a Balanced Diet & Get Enough Sleep

As there is a common saying, you become what you eat. For managing your stress levels, it is necessary to have a well-balanced diet and a proper sleep pattern.

Add protein-rich foods, vegetables, or fruits to your diet and minimize the intake of sugar/ alcohol in your diet to control your stress levels. Avoid skipping meals and try to eat at the same time for a healthier stomach and overall body.?

Sleeping for 7-8 hours daily is recommended by most doctors as it is considered as normal sleep. In addition, don't stay awake late at night and be an early riser. Because somehow, your sleep patterns interlink with your stress levels and influence them.

4# Go Easy On Yourself

We are so busy in our monotonous life that we hardly get time to spend with ourselves. We constantly keep struggling to make things perfect and that's where we start feeling stressed and end up burned out.?

But realize that you don't have control over everything. Do what you can without being overwhelmed and leave the things you don't have any control over. And again, don't feel guilty or stressed by doing so.?

Avoid going hard too on yourself, take out some time for chilling out. To stay calm and to be more proactive at the same time, don't rush things. If possible, start earlier, divide big tasks into the small ones, take breaks and reward yourself when you complete any task.

5# Reduce Screen Time and Do Something Productive

Believe it or not, scrolling aimlessly on social media can also be the main reason for feeling more anxiety and stress. We unconsciously compare our lives with others that are often represented as more attractive than real. Realize that in most cases, reel life is far different from real life.?

So instead of spending time with your digital gadgets, try out doing something new and more productive. For instance, practice relaxing hobbies like reading, sports, solving puzzles, gardening, knitting, painting, creating something aesthetic, etc.?

So next time, whenever you feel stressed or think that you have spent more time on your screen, try out any of the above-mentioned activities because it will help you to manage your stress and you will feel more relaxed.

6# Reach out to your family or friends

Reaching out to reliable people like your family or friends in hard times. As it's important to know that you have friends and family who are there for you. Realize that they want the best for you, and they want to see you happy.

They can help with stress management by letting you know when they're feeling down or upset, which helps them feel better too!

7# Practice Deep Breathing Regularly

Deep breathing is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety. The first step is to take a deep breath in through your nose, then hold it for a few seconds. Exhale through your mouth and repeat this exercise several times.

Summing Up

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that when you are stressed, take a few minutes and write down what you’re feeling, how bad it is, and how long it has been going on for. Then, take some deep breaths. It will help clear your mind and make it easier for you to manage your emotions in a positive way.

How do you manage stress in your day-to-day life? Let me know, I look forward to your thoughts below and @Zohaibkhan.92 .