Introduction.
"Life is like a turbulent sea, tossing us about with its unpredictable waves, but it is in these moments of chaos that we discover our true strength and resilience." Unknown
Stress and anxiety are the most common mental health issues in the United States. It's estimated that more than 25% of people will suffer from an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, and more than 50 million Americans are affected by stress each year. In spite of this, many people suffer in silence because they don't know how to cope with these issues or think they should just be able to "get over it." But there are ways you can manage your stress and anxiety and ultimately improve your health without resorting to medication or therapy. Here's how:
Get into a routine.
Stress and anxiety can be caused by the unknown. You may not know if you'll get that job promotion, or if a doctor's appointment will reveal something serious. It's scary to think about how many things could go wrong in your life, but it's also important to remember that there are many things that might go right as well: Your family could be healthy; your friends may stay loyal; maybe one day you'll win a million dollars!
In order for these good things to happen--and for us humans not to spend all our time worrying about them--we have to find ways of calming ourselves down when negative thoughts start creeping up on us. One way is through routine: having regular habits and rituals can help us feel grounded when our minds start spinning out of control with worry or anxiety over what might happen next week or next year (or even later today).
Learn to listen to your body.
One of the most important skills you can develop is learning to listen to your body. If you're feeling tired and worn down, take a break from work and do something relaxing (like taking a bath or going for a walk). Or if it's not that time yet, then go back to work! If there's still more left on your plate after this break, then do it!
In short: know when it's time for a break and know when it's time to get back into the thick of things--and trust yourself enough not only recognize these signs but act on them as well!
Take breaks throughout the day.
Taking breaks throughout the day is an essential part of managing stress and anxiety. Breaks give you a chance to refresh yourself, so that when you return to work or whatever task at hand, you're ready for it.
Take five minutes every hour or two: Set an alarm on your phone or computer so that every 60 minutes or so (depending on how often), it will remind you to take some time off from whatever task is stressing you out. This can be anything from going for a walk outside in nature, stretching out with some yoga poses or meditating for five minutes at home before heading back into work mode again.
Do something different: If possible, try doing something completely different than usual during these breaks such as reading a book instead of working on spreadsheets all day long; playing video games instead of doing paperwork; watching TV shows instead writing reports etc.
Make time for self-care.
Self-care is a necessity, and it doesn't have to be expensive or take up much time at all. Self-care can be as simple as taking a bath or going for a walk in the park. You should also make sure that you have some fun activities on your calendar--these could include things like getting together with friends or seeing your favorite band play live! Take a break from your phone. It's easy for us to get lost in our phones, but this can be incredibly damaging to our mental health. Try putting your phone on airplane mode for 20 minutes every day or leaving it at home when you go out with friends. Exercise regularly. Exercise is a great way to manage stress—it releases endorphins that help you feel happier and more energized!
Practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a tool to help you become aware of your own thoughts and feelings. It can help you be more present in your life, which is useful when dealing with stress, anxiety and depression. The practice of mindfulness has also been shown to improve sleep quality.
Connect with other people.
Talk to a friend, family member or coworker about what's on your mind. Go out for lunch or coffee with a friend and talk about how they're doing in life. If you don't have anyone in your life to talk to, consider joining a club, a local church or organization where you can meet new people who might become friends!
Exercise regularly.
Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety. It's also been shown to reduce depression, improve sleep quality and boost energy levels. In fact, it's one of the best things you can do for your health overall! If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by stress or anxiety in daily life, try making time in your schedule for regular exercise--even if it's just a few minutes each day at first. You'll be surprised at how much better this makes you feel generally! When you are in charge of your own well-being, you will be less prone to burnout and improve your health.
Stress and anxiety are unavoidable. They're a part of life, and they can be triggered by external or internal factors. You may have experienced stress at work, in your personal life or simply because you feel overwhelmed by everything going on around you. Stress can also arise as a result of feeling powerless over something that is happening to you (for example: being stuck in traffic).
When we feel stressed out or anxious about something that has happened or will happen in our lives, our bodies enter into fight-or-flight mode; this means that certain hormones are released which prepare us for danger by increasing heart rate and blood pressure so we can react quickly if needed. While this response may sound helpful at first glance --and sometimes even necessary --it actually causes more harm than good because these hormones cause inflammation throughout the body which leads to long term poor health outcomes such as heart disease or diabetes later down the line.
Conclusion.
The key to managing stress and anxiety is to take control of your own well-being. By doing so, you will be less prone to burnout and improve your health overall. Remember that there are many different ways that you can manage these feelings, so don't be afraid if one approach doesn't work for you! Try something new and see how it goes 😊.