Each and every one of us goes through some stressful times at some point in our lives. This is unavoidable since there are so many things that can result in stress including work, studies, relationship issues, and unanticipated life events.
It is vital to know how to properly manage stress because it can negatively affect both mental and physical health. In this piece, we explore some of the ways you can take care of yourself during stressful times.
Acknowledge you are stressed
If you’re to succeed in managing stress, you need to admit to yourself when you are stressed. Here’s the thing: stress can manifest itself as many symptoms including physical and emotional ones.
So, what are some of the common signs of stress? Well, some of the indicators that you could be stressed include:
- Changes in appetite
- Sleeping problems
- Fatigue
- Unexplainable anger or irritability
- Anxiety or feeling overwhelmed
- Muscle tension or headache
When you experience such signs, and you can tell for sure that you’re stressed, you can start working on how to deal with it.
Understand your stressors
Having realized that you are stressed, you need to identify what is causing it. You could be stressed due to relationship issues, work stuff, finances, or many other things. When you know what’s causing you stress, you can take steps to address it.
Among the many things that can stress you, there are some that are within your sphere of control, but others are beyond you. For those things that you can influence, you can focus your energy on them, but some things are out of your control like global events and you need to just accept them.
Practice self-care
One of the best ways to cope with stress is to practice self-care. It is vital to prioritize taking care of yourself and your well-being. Here are some tips that you can use to take care of yourself:
- Make sure you often eat a balanced diet that consists of plenty of vegetables, fruits, and proteins
- Get enough sleep and aim to have an uninterrupted 7-9 hours of sleep per night
- Work out regularly, even if it is only 20 minutes daily because exercise can lower stress levels
- Keep a journal of how you feel so you can understand your feelings better and process them
- Engage in activities that you like doing be it painting, singing, reading, or anything else
- Practice gratitude. You can do this by listing at least 3 things daily you’re thankful for
Explore some natural products
There are some natural products that can help to alleviate stress and bring about relaxation. Below are some of the widely recommended options that have adaptogenic or calming effects:
- Herbal teas such as lavender, chamomile, and lemon balm. These can help to calm the mind, induce relaxation, and improve sleep quality.
- Essential oils, such as bergamot oil, that improve mood when inhaled or diffused, and lavender oil which is known for its anxiety reduction and relaxation effect when used in aromatherapy. Also, peppermint oil helps to reduce mental fatigue due to stress and enhance mental clarity.
- CBD products are best known for managing sleep problems, reducing anxiety, and promoting relaxation. They come in different forms including edibles such as gummies, vapes, tinctures, rolls or joints for smoking, and even oils for topical application. If you want high-quality CBD flowers, ensure you buy reputable brands like Cannaflower and other trusted vendors.
Talk to someone you trust
Stress may feel too difficult to deal with on your own at times, especially the worry, sadness, and anxiety that comes with it. In such situations, you need to connect with a friend, a family member, or someone else who you are comfortable with and trust, and talk to them about your feelings. They may be able to help you. In fact, simply talking to someone can help you feel better even when they don’t offer you a solution outrightly.
Take regular breaks
Sometimes you can be stressed from working continuously, especially when you need to meet deadlines. This can result in extreme fatigue among other things. To cope with such work-related stress, you can consider taking regular breaks between tasks or after working for long durations.
During those breaks, stand up from your seat and stretch or even take a short walk. It is also important to take days off from work and rest to rejuvenate so you can carry on with your work with more clarity.
Manage your time and set boundaries
If you always find yourself rushing at the last minute to meet deadlines, you could be a poor time manager, or take on more tasks than you can manage. You need to improve your time management to avoid the stress that results from such a last-minute rush.
You should also learn to say no without feeling guilty, especially if you are often added to or assigned more tasks than you can handle. In addition, set realistic expectations and prioritize your tasks so you don’t burn out. It is also vital to learn how to delegate tasks so you don’t have to do everything.
Be patient with yourself
You may get stressed because of things you have not completed or accomplished. Also, you could be in a new job, or an unfamiliar place and want to fit so quickly, which may not always be possible.
The secret is to be patient with yourself and understand that it takes time to master new skills, adapt to a new environment, and get things completed. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time, as you also do your best to learn the needed skills or blend in with the new people.
Seek professional help when necessary
Sometimes stress may be too much for you to cope with on your own, and it could start affecting your health and daily life. If in such situations, consider seeking help from a therapist or counselor so you can manage and cope with whatever stresses you are facing.
Conclusion
It is important to know how to take care of yourself during stressful times so you can manage to get over your stressors and move on with life. Some of the ways you can cope with stress are knowing what is stressing you, prioritizing self-care, using natural remedies to stress including CBD products, and taking regular breaks.
In addition, you need to learn to manage time and say NO to people who want to get you into more than you can handle. Seeking professional help is another way that can help you deal with stress, especially when you are stressed so much that it affects your well-being.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Solomon Ihahi Njoroge is a freelance writer with wide experience researching and writing on Health and Fitness as well as other topics for various websites and publications. He is passionate about writing content that enlightens readers, especially on health matters, to promote happier and better living.
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