Top 5 Ways to Cope with Stress
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Top 5 Ways to Cope with Stress
Top 5 Ways to Cope with Stress
It is July 2020. I think we can all agree it has probably been one of the most stressful years we have endured. You go through the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic on top of our everyday stress. The stress of trying to meet deadlines at work, working on your relationships, taking care of your family, dealing with your family, and somehow trying to figure out how to take care of yourself in the midst of this chaos. I thought I would share some popular and effective ways of dealing with stress in our lives.
1. Back to basics. You get stressed out and you start to put taking care of yourself on the back burner. So, what’s back to basics about? Making sure you are eating enough healthy food during the day. Drinking enough water throughout the day. Trying to go to bed at a reasonable time and wake up at a reasonable time. When we put basic self-care on the back burner, it is even more difficult to deal with stress. I think about the old Snickers commercial of “You aren’t you when you’re hungry.” It is pretty accurate. If you skip breakfast and lunch and are dehydrated, your distress tolerance may be much lower.
2. Ask for help. Many times, it feels easier to just tackle the to-do list by yourself. It seems like a good idea at the time, but as stress increases, it makes it that much harder to stay on top of everything. Asking for help is tricky. It is a vulnerable feeling as you do not know what the other person will say. On the other side, you might not receive help if no one knows you need it. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. If your support system is unable to help, it may be beneficial to reach out for help for therapy. Therapy can be a great way to make time for yourself and help navigate your stressors.
3. Take mini breaks. When your stressed, you tell yourself you have no time for anything. Sometimes that self-talk actually makes us feel more stressed. Pause for a moment or two and take some deep breathes in through your nose and out through your mouth. This can be a great pause and a little reset before you face your next stressor. Another way to take a break is to limit news and/or limit time on social media. Not only can it be a time suck, it can negatively impact our mood.
4. Say no. No is a complete sentence. No. Sometime stress increases when you offer to go out of your way to help others. It is a kind gesture, but it can out you out, take time away from your self-care, and can possibly create feelings of resentment. Remember, saying no to something allows you to say yes to something for yourself.
5. Talk to someone. You do not have to keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself. You are not in this alone. Try talking to a trusted friend or family member. If that is not enough support or not an option, trying to talk to a therapist about stress management and your emotions.
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