How to Combat Stress

As April is Stress Awareness Month we wanted to discuss some of the best measures that every individual can take to lessen the negative effects!

Now, there is no denying that our everyday schedules bring us up against a whole host of stressors. However it’s not all doom and gloom – in fact, there are many resources, mindsets and organisations that we can look towards to lead a more peaceful lifestyle.

These measures can be split into three distinct segments; the physical, the mental and the practical. All of which can provide fantastic results by breaking down those feelings of anxiety and stress.

The Physical

It’s unlikely that you aren’t aware of the importance of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. However, it is important to remember that this necessity exceeds regular physical activity alone – instead, we must consider all elements of physical wellbeing.

One key element of this is sleep. Our sleep patterns can have a drastic impact on our day to day functioning and poor patterns have frequently been linked to issues such as; a weakened immune system and mental health problems. The common thought logic behind this is that sleep allows our bodies to recuperate and additionally allows our brains to better process information.

Similarly to sleep, a poor diet can also have ramifications on our feelings of stress and overall mental wellbeing. One particular study found that individuals who ingested more fruit and vegetables had notably higher levels of wellbeing. So try and rectify this! A great way to ensure you maintain a balanced diet is to meal plan. Sit down and decide what you’ll be cooking or preparing over the next few days and you’re sure to see a difference!

Physical activity is, of course, hugely important for our mental wellbeing. However, we must understand that this isn’t limited to intense cardio or gym sessions. In fact, there are some activities that allow you to maintain a healthy lifestyle, while also calming your mental state. The obvious practice that comes to mind in this instance is yoga. We’ve all heard and seen, celebrities gush over how therapeutic yoga is and it turns out they weren’t lying – and luckily, there are a huge number of free online resources available for you to try!

The Mental

A major reason that many individuals experience stress is that they struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance. In this instance, a worthwhile action is creating a divide in your mind – i.e. separate your work life from your personal life.

This might sound easy, and at first glance, it is. However, we know it can be a difficult task to undertake. A great way to start this process is to disconnect from any technology that links you to work responsibilities once arriving home. This will allow you to enjoy your downtime without apprehension.

Of course, stress exists outside of work lives alone and often permeates through our family relationships, social life and external obligations. It is therefore vital that we all have measures in place to help us control our feelings of stress and anxiety so that they don’t control us. Some popular ways of doing so include; practising meditation, speaking to a trusted peer, and improving communication skills among many others.

The Practical

Fortunately, in our ever-changing, technological world, there are countless resources that we can access from the comfort of our own home – these range from scheduling applications to meditation programs to peer-support platforms as well as so much more. Nevertheless, it can be difficult to identify which apps – out of the thousands available – can best assist us with our daily stressors. That’s why we’ve fine picked a few for you.

Headspace

Headspace allows you to dedicate time in reflecting on our past actions to achieve mindfulness. The application presents users with copious meditation practices tailored to different experience levels to ensure it caters for all.

What’s Up

This platform allows individuals to access Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) depending on the assistance they require. Not only does this provide an individual with professional resources, but it additionally affords them the sense of control they may be missing in other aspects of life.

TalkLife

Sometimes the best way to relieve stress is to talk through the situation that is causing it. However, many people don’t feel comfortable doing so with their peers. This is exactly why TalkLife is such a brilliant application as it connects you with a community that is ready to listen without judgement.

These measures are all a great step in the right direction. However, if you feel like stress is preventing you from fully living your life or obstructing you from completing even the most basic of tasks, then it’s important to seek help and guidance from a professional.