A Few Thoughts to Help De-Stress on National Stress Awareness Day

National Stress Awareness Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday in November to increase public awareness and help people recognize, manage, and reduce stress in their personal and professional lives. Stress is inevitable and something that we all have experienced at one point in time and for many, unfortunately something that occurs often. In honor of National Stress Awareness Day, I wanted to share a few things that I find helpful when I’m needing to reduce stress in my life.

As a founder and CEO of a growing gaming company in Silicon Valley, I certainly have my share of stressful days and situations. While some stress is good for us as it’s our body’s form of protecting itself from harm, it is not something to take lightly. I’ve found in my personal life that it is extremely important to recognize what is causing my stress to cope with it before it takes a toll on my overall health and wellness.

While everyone’s stress threshold will vary, with some managing higher stress levels than others, finding new and healthy ways to deal with stressful situations can go a long way towards living a positive lifestyle and being a strong leader. A few things that have helped me along the way include:

• Breathing – Take some time to stop and breathe. Focus on deep breathing to settle your mind, relieve pressure and get reenergized in the middle of your day. We even have wearables today that alert us and simply tell us to “breathe” and there is a reason for this. Taking a moment out of your day to remember to check your breathing can go a long way.
• Shifting to the Positive – Let go of thoughts and anxiety from the past and worries about the future. We all know, you can’t live in the past. I like to focus on being in the moment, detaching myself from negative feelings, and redirecting my thoughts towards the positive things in my life.
• Getting Moving – We all know that getting up and increasing your activity levels can improve your mood and help relieve stress. It can be as simple as taking a walk outside to help distract your mind from worries or incorporating even a small amount of exercise regularly into your routine to help lift your overall mood. Engaging in relaxation activities such as yoga, meditation and hiking can also be a great stress management tool, of which I love to take part in.
• Taking Hobby Time – I’ve found that taking a break from the hustle and bustle and engaging in activities that I enjoy helps to bring joy and peace in my life and reduces stress. Whether that’s diving into my favorite mobile game, reading a book, walking dog, gardening, or creating art, I try to carve out some time to dedicate to my interests outside AviaGames.
• Connecting with Others – Talking with others about how you feel and what or if something is bothering you can help lower your stress. I focus on spending time with positive people who help improve my mood, rather than increase my stress and provide support during challenging times – this is something that has been invaluable for my personal well-being.

Stress is a natural part of life and will impact everyone differently, but how we deal with it is what matters most. No matter which routes you take to reduce stress, the crucial thing is to recognize stress and start taking action to implement activities that will positively impact your life. Don’t forget to take some time for yourself today. And, if you happen to have a few tricks for de-stressing, I’d love for you to share in the comments below. #nationalstressawarenessday