5 SIMPLE Ways to Take Care of Yourself During Stressful Times

Stress is a killer, and sadly these days we seem to take on more and more stress in our ever-increasing busy lives. Stress can lead to inflammation throughout your body, triggering the onset of a number of less than dire desirable health conditions. It attacks your emotions and mind, which can lead to neurological disorders, emotional eating, detachment from friends and family, anxiety and depression and so much more.

 

Sadly, I’m a perfect example of this because I often tend to hold my stress inwardly instead of allowing myself to utilize the methods I’ll describe below to help alleviate some of the issues my stress has caused. I’ve learned more recently to apply some of this knowledge but it literally is something I have to focus on and make a point to do. If I don’t, my stress related conditions creep up on me and before I know it I’m feeling sick and fatigued again.

 

Unfortunately, stress happens to everyone. That means you need to know how to deal with stress effectively. Consider the following 5 practices the next time a stressful situation arises, and stress will have a minimal negative impact in your life.

 

1 – Meditate

 

Effective meditation has been proven for centuries to reduce stress and anxiety. There are plenty of free and paid meditation resources online to help you get started. Remember that you don’t have to be in a particular physical environment or area to meditate. Your time investment can be minimal as well. Close your eyes, calm your mind, focus on your breathing and in just a few minutes you can feel the stress slipping away.

 

Make a point to set a timer to go off every hour to allow yourself a few minutes of a meditation break if you have to.

2 – Change Your Environment

 

If it is possible to leave your stressful situation, do so. Take a walk. Get outside in the sun. Take off your shoes and walk through a grassy field. Read a few pages of a book or watch a funny cat video. Sometimes your environment is causing your stress, and even just 5 or 10 minutes away can help your situation.

 

Since I work from home, I find that my favorite break is a quick snuggle with my dogs. Animals really are therapy and I always come back to work focused and feeling re-energized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 – Treat Your Body Right

 

Sometimes your stressful situation is your body’s way of telling you that you are unhealthy. This means eating right, less fast food and processed food items, and more fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and berries. Get some exercise as well, at least 3 to 5 days a week. Make sure you’re getting plenty of rest, and drinking lots of water.

 

4 – Create a Stress-Free Zone at Home and Work

 

As mentioned above, your environment can sometimes dictate your mood. Create a nurturing place at home, and at work if possible. Keep it simple, with as few objects and possessions as possible. Add pictures and music that soothe you and make you happy. This is a place where you can mentally reset your emotions, minimizing the impact of stress.

 

I use essential oils A LOT at home and I even got my husband hooked on them. The first thing he does when he gets home is to fill the oil vaporizer so we have fresh, healthy invigorating scents around the house. Learn more about the use of essential oils in any of our related posts that can be found here.

 

5 – Look at Things Objectively

 

Your stress is not always as full-blown as you think you is. Human beings sometimes have a tendency to over-exaggerate a situation. Look at your circumstances as if you were a nonjudgmental outsider. This allows you to identify the real cause of stress, and then you can act accordingly.

 

I am guilty myself of sometimes being a worry wart, or worse, seeing things that really aren’t that important as hugely stressful events in my life. With as much tragedy and pain as I’ve endured this last year, I have actually gained a lot of perspective as to what entails real stress and what things in my life can be put into perspective and therefore not allow myself to get as worked up over it.

 

I’m curious – how do you take care of yourself during stressful times? Comment below and let’s share ideas!