Stress Management Tips for Busy Women

Stress is an unavoidable part of life. It can be caused by work, relationships, or even the environment. But it's important to remember that we can take steps to manage our stress and lead healthier lives. This article will explore some simple yet effective tips for managing stress. 

Could you make time to meditate as your schedule allows?

Taking time to meditate can profoundly impact your mental and physical well-being. It can reduce stress, improve focus, and increase happiness. Even if you only have a few minutes, meditation can help you tap into a calmer state of mind and reconnect with your inner self. With practice, it becomes easier to fit meditation into your daily routine, allowing you to reap its many benefits.

Take a break at work as often as possible to give your mind time to de-stress and refocus when you're at your desk.

Regular breaks at work can work wonders for your productivity and mental well-being. By taking a break, you're allowing your mind to take a step back from what you're working on and de-stress, enabling you to return to the task with a new perspective. Breaks also give your brain a chance to refocus and refocus on the task at hand, making it easier for you to achieve your goals.

Take up a new hobby as a way to de-stress.

We all need a break from time to time. Taking up a new hobby is an excellent way to let off steam, reduce stress, and make life more enjoyable. Whether painting, cooking, gardening or something else, adding a new hobby to your day can help you relax and take your mind off the stresses of everyday life. With the right attitude and commitment, you can look forward to these activities as an escape from reality.

Plant a garden or work on a home improvement project.

Gardening and home improvement projects can be an enjoyable and rewarding way to spend your time. It will bring significant benefits if you plant a garden or work on a home improvement project. Planting a garden can be therapeutic, provide fresh produce for your family, and help create a beautiful outdoor space. Working on home improvement projects can add value to your property, make your home more efficient, and give you a sense of accomplishment.

Get outside in the sunlight to help manage stress.

Spending time outdoors in the sunlight can help reduce stress and improve your overall well-being. The sun's rays are full of Vitamin D, which can help boost mood and energy levels. So, if you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed, get outside in the sunshine and take a break from your daily routine. Additionally, the natural beauty of nature helps put things into perspective and can provide much-needed peace of mind.

Download a guided imagery app to help calm your mind.

Guided imagery is a powerful tool for calming the mind and reducing stress. It can create a peaceful, relaxed mind, improving focus, attention, and productivity. With the help of guided imagery apps, users can access pre-recorded audio sessions that provide relaxing visualizations and soothing music to help them stay calm. These apps are easy to get started with guided imagery - all you need is your phone or tablet!

Go on YouTube and watch funny videos.

YouTube is a great way to take a break from the stress of everyday life and have a good laugh. From stand-up comedy clips to funny animal videos, YouTube has it all. Watching funny videos on YouTube can be an enjoyable and low-stress way to de-stress and get some much-needed laughter into your day. So go ahead, take a few minutes out of your day, search for funny videos on YouTube, and get ready to laugh!

Your local aquarium or museum can be enjoyed with friends or on your own.

Learning about a topic that interests you can be fun, and everyone can enjoy it.

Spending time at the zoo is a great way to relax and unwind after a long, busy week. Whether you're looking to explore exotic animals or take in the sights, visiting the zoo with friends can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. From learning about different species to watching your favorite animals interact with each other, there are plenty of fun activities for everyone to enjoy.

Visit your favorite spa and enjoy a massage.

Treat yourself to a relaxing and rejuvenating experience by visiting your favorite spa. Enjoy a massage tailored to your needs, from light and gentle strokes to deep tissue work. Unwind and let your stress melt away as you relax in the comfort of your favorite spa. Experience the ultimate relaxation and renewal with a visit to your favorite spa for a massage.

Try new forms of stress management, such as progressive relaxation.

Stress can significantly impact our physical and mental well-being, but it doesn't have to be that way. Progressive relaxation is an effective and natural way to relieve stress. It involves consciously relaxing the muscles in your body one at a time, from head to toe. This gentle technique can help you move from a state of tension to deep relaxation, allowing you to let go of any stress or worries. Learning and practicing progressive relaxation can reduce stress levels and improve emotional and physical health.

Take a nap if you're feeling tired or lethargic.

If you feel tired and lacking energy, why not take a nap? Napping is a great way to rest and recharge your body and mind. Taking a short nap during the day can improve alertness, cognitive performance, and overall mood. Plus, it's easy to fit into your schedule! Taking 20-30 minutes of your day for a restful nap can make all the difference in how you feel afterward.

Make time for yourself non-negotiable every day.

Our lives have become increasingly busy, making it difficult to make time for ourselves. However, it is essential to remember that taking care of our physical and mental health should be non-negotiable. Whether it's taking a few minutes to relax or going on a walk outside - setting aside some time for yourself each day is essential. Making time for yourself each day can help you stay productive, reduce stress, and improve your overall quality of life.

Take time to listen to your favorite podcast or music.

It's so easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but taking time to listen to your favorite podcast or music can help you relax and unwind. Listening to podcasts or music can be a great way to escape into a world of your while also giving you a chance to learn something new. It can also boost creativity and productivity, providing an opportunity for reflection on life. Whether it's a favorite podcast or an album that takes you back in time, enjoying the music or stories will benefit your mental and physical health.

Try counting backward if you're feeling stressed at work or a social event and need a fast way to relieve it.

Feeling stressed at work or a social event can be overwhelming and difficult to manage. Fortunately, a simple, effective way to reduce stress quickly is to count backward. Counting backward is an easy technique that can help you relax and refocus in stressful situations. It's a quick and easy way to clear your head and gain perspective on whatever issue you face. With this simple tool, you can reduce stress and anxiety in no time at all.

You can take the time to visit the bathroom and play a game on your phone to give your brain a break.

Regular daily breaks are essential for maintaining a healthy and productive work-life balance. A great way to do this is to take a few minutes each day to visit the bathroom and play a game on your phone. This allows your brain to take a break from the stresses of work, enabling you to come back refreshed and ready to tackle whatever challenges you may face. Whether it's a quick game of 2048 or something more complex like Monument Valley, taking time away from work can benefit your physical and mental health.

Try using a stress ball during times of high stress.

One of the best ways to combat stress is using a stress ball. Stress balls are a simple but effective device that can help reduce tension and promote relaxation. They are available in various shapes, sizes, and colors, making them easy to incorporate into your daily routine. So if you're feeling overwhelmed or anxious, try using a stress ball as an effective way to cope with stress.

Get your thoughts and feelings on paper.

Writing is an essential form of self-expression and a powerful tool for getting your thoughts and feelings on paper. It can help you to explore and process your emotions, gain clarity on complex issues, build better relationships, and even boost your creativity. Whether you're journaling, writing a letter to yourself or someone else, or just jotting down ideas, taking the time to get your thoughts and feelings on paper can profoundly affect how you feel about yourself and the world around you and how you interact with others.

Be assertive when you set boundaries. Don't let others take advantage of you.

Everyone deserves to have their boundaries respected, yet it can be challenging to be assertive. Setting boundaries can help protect your time, energy, and sanity from being taken advantage of by others. By learning how to confidently and effectively communicate your expectations, you can ensure that your desires are respected and that no one takes advantage of you in the process.

Be bold and tell people' no' if you're too busy or tired.

We often feel obligated to say 'yes' when someone asks for our help or asks us to do something, even if we are too busy or exhausted. However, it's important to remember that you don't always have to say 'yes.' It is perfectly acceptable, and even beneficial sometimes, to politely decline requests and tell people 'no' if you are too busy or tired. “Thank you for inviting me, but I won't be able to make it tonight," or "I'm not able to do that right now, but I can next week," or "Thank you for thinking of me, but I am not able to do that right now.”

Think about how you react to certain situations.

Our reactions to certain situations are primarily determined by our past experiences and how we have been conditioned to respond. We must be aware of how our reactions may affect our relationships with others. Thinking about how we react in certain situations, we can develop healthier responses and manage difficult emotions better.

With the pressures of life increasingly weighing down on us, it is paramount that we take care of our physical and mental health. Achieving a balanced lifestyle requires effort and dedication, but simple tips can make it easier. From taking time out to exercising regularly, these tips will help you cope with the pressures of everyday life and enjoy a more balanced lifestyle.

Simple Ways to Destress in 10-Minutes or Fewer this Holiday Season

Stress can be a significant problem for many people. It can lead to various health problems and make you feel like you are living in a constant state of anxiety.

However, there are some ways that you can manage your stress levels during the holiday season. Here are 10-minute tips to help you destress this holiday:

1) Exercise daily.

You should try to find time to exercise, even if it is just for 10 to 15 minutes per day. Exercise will allow your body and mind to relax. Exercise also helps boost energy levels by releasing blood sugar and storing it as energy for your body.

2) Prepare for the season ahead.

Make sure that everything is prepared before the holiday arrives so you don't have any last-minute stressors. One way to prepare for your holiday is to list everything you need. Ensure you have checked off all the items on your list and can easily find them when needed.

3) Create a list to stay organized.

Create a list of all the things that need to be done before the holiday arrives so that you know what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and it's time to prepare your home for the holiday. That means you need to start organizing a list of all the things that need to be done before Thanksgiving arrives so that you know what needs to be done and when it needs to be done.

4) Take deep breaths to keep your mind focused and calm.

Take deep breaths throughout the day as often as possible because this can help keep your mind focused. Deep breathing can help increase oxygen flow to the brain, reduce stress and anxiety, and lower blood pressure and heart rate. These benefits of deep breathing can improve your mental health.

5) Find a quiet place to relax your mind.

Finding a quiet place to relax your mind can be hard in today's busy world. With the constant distractions of social media, emails, and text messages, it can be hard to find peace. You can find inner peace in many ways, such as by meditating or reading a book.

6) Drink some water to ensure you stay hydrated throughout the day.

Hydration is essential for your overall health. You should drink at least eight glasses of water per day, but there are other ways to stay hydrated, such as drinking tea and eating fruit and vegetables. Remember to drink some water throughout the day to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

7) Listen to some soothing music to calm your mind.

When you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it can be hard to find a way to calm down. One technique that may help is listening to soothing music. This is not a new idea, but studies have found that putting on some relaxing tunes can lower blood pressure, heart rate, and more.

8) Get out of the house and spend time with friends.

Sometimes you need to take a break from your busy schedules to replenish your energy. Spending time with friends is a great way to do this and can also be an excellent time to reconnect.

9) Watch your favorite TV show or movie alone.

Sometimes the best way to enjoy your favorite TV show or movie is by watching it alone. TV shows and movies are meant to be shared with others, but sometimes people want to enjoy the content in solitude.

10) Go for a walk on those cool, crisp autumn days.

Autumn is an excellent time for a walk. The crisp, cool air and crunching leaves are refreshing from the hot summer days. Autumn also provides the opportunity to find hidden treasures such as fallen leaves, acorns, and pine cones.

11) Get in touch with your feelings.

Take some time alone and write down all the emotions you are feeling. You can also write down what you want to do or say if you think that way.

12) Do something creative.

Write a poem, draw a picture, or collage images representing what the season means to you. Creative people can develop new ideas and solve problems in unique ways. They also have a strong sense of self-direction, autonomy, and mastery over their work.

13) Get moving, whether taking a walk on your lunch break or doing some stretches at your desk.

Sitting for prolonged periods is a bad habit many office workers fall into. The average person spends over seven hours a day sitting down, which is increasing with the rise of technology. Being sedentary can be just as bad for you as smoking, being obese, and not exercising.

14) Practice self-compassion.

Be kind and gentle with yourself when things get tough. You deserve to be at peace with your decisions this last year or hardships. Self-compassion is defined as being kind to oneself in instances of personal failure or suffering. It is a form of self-talk that includes acceptance and understanding. Self-compassion is a powerful tool for emotional self-regulation and stress management.

15) Get enough sleep every night.

Studies show that lack of sleep can increase your risk for depression and anxiety. Make sure you get at least seven hours of sleep a night to feel refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

16) Find your happy place.

Take a few minutes each day to think about something that makes you happy and fills you with joy. Focusing on what makes you happy is a great way to recharge your batteries and create a positive mindset. While spending time with family and friends is always essential, it's also important to take time for yourself. Think about the things that bring you joy, such as hobbies, music, books, movies, and more.

17) Practice mindfulness by taking deep breaths and focusing on what you're doing now without letting your mind wander too much.

Mindfulness is a hot topic, and everyone is talking about it. But what does mindfulness mean? Mindfulness is living in the present moment and letting go of judgment. It's an ongoing practice that helps you see your thoughts and feelings without getting carried away.

18) Don't overbook yourself!

It's tempting when so many things are going on at once, but try to take on only one thing at a time and make sure your schedule leaves plenty of downtime for relaxation!

19) Permit yourself to do nothing sometimes!

You deserve it—don't feel guilty about taking time for yourself! To be productive, you often think you must be doing something all the time. However, you are human beings and, as such, need to take time off and do nothing sometimes. You deserve time off just as much as anyone else! Taking time for yourself benefits your mental health and can help you replenish your energy levels.

20) Take a break from social media.

Social media can incite feelings of envy and FOMO. It is easy to get caught up in comparing yourself and your life to others, leading to feelings of inadequacy and depression. Take a break from social media for the next few weeks and focus on what you have going for you!

21) Create an intention list.

This is a list of things you would like to accomplish in the next year, and it’s essential to include things that make you happy. It can be challenging to go through the motions of your day-to-day life without a set of goals. So to ensure that you are fulfilling, it is important to set intentions for yourself in the coming year. Creating an intention list is an excellent way to get started if you want to live a happier and more fulfilling life.

22) Make time for yourself every day, even if it’s just 10 minutes in the morning or evening.

Taking care of yourself is essential so you can be there for others when they need you the most. It’s easy to get wrapped up in other people’s problems and forget to care for ourselves. One way you can do that is by making time for yourself every day, even if it’s just 10 minutes in the morning or evening. You should make time for yourself to do something you love, take a walk, or sit with your thoughts.

23) Meditation is another excellent way to destress; it can be done in 10 minutes or less.

It would help if you had a quiet place, sometimes alone, and some deep breaths. You can also use meditation apps for your phone or try guided meditation on YouTube.

24) Yoga is a great way to destress.

It uses movements that are specifically designed for relaxation and self-care. Yoga has other benefits, like improving flexibility, strength, balance, and more. Yoga is also a great activity with your friends and family because it can be shared among many people. Many classes will also have various levels, so there is something for everyone.

25) Do something that makes you feel good, like eating a favorite food or petting your dog.

Doing something that makes you feel good is an instant mood elevator. Your mood is directly impacted by the thoughts and behaviors you generate from the second you wake up to the second you go to sleep. It's hard to always be at your best, especially when you don't have time for things that make you happy. So, if you feel down or out of sorts, try doing something that lifts your spirits.

26). Take a bath or shower and wash your hair as a way to destress.

Everyone does a bath or shower every day, and it can be done quickly and with minimal effort. One of the best ways to do this is to wash your hair.

27) Write about your thoughts and feelings in a journal for 10 minutes (this can be done in public or private).

Journaling is used as a self-help or therapeutic tool. It can be used as a form of expression to release thoughts, feelings, and emotions that may have been pent up. Journaling can also be a form of self-reflection and an opportunity to gain clarity about one's thoughts, feelings, and goals for the future. Journaling can promote better mental health by providing a sense of order and connection.

It is the holiday season, and you feel the pressure of spending time with family and friends. You might feel stressed or anxious about what to do next. Follow these simple 10-minute tips to help you destress this holiday season.

10 Ways to Take Care of Yourself During Summer

Summer is the time of year when everyone is looking for ways to take care of themselves. This can be a difficult task for many people as they try to balance their work, family lives, and other responsibilities. This article includes 10 self-care tips that you can use to help yourself during summer!

What does summer mean to you? Do you see it as an opportunity to catch up with friends and family and finally put your feet up or do you associate it with personal development and extra workload? Whichever scenario it reminds you of, this season it’s all about finding the right balance between work and rest and starting a self-care summer routine that is easy and effortless.

It’s important to take care of yourself during summer to make sure you’re healthy enough to go for a holiday and enjoy it, and since you’ll have more free time it’s the best time to make changes to your schedule that can bring you long-term benefits.

Here are 10 self-care tips you should follow this summer:

1. Make your rest time purposeful and peaceful

In a world of social media, it’s difficult not to feel the pressure to constantly improve your skills and learn new things, so you might be tempted to make your days off as productive as possible. However, being overworked only defeats the purpose and makes you too tired to retain new information and progress at all.

Therefore, you should consider a purposeful summer and make sure there’s a balance between rest and hard work. It’s important to learn how to view your rest days as a step forward; if you imagine that our energy is like petrol that allows us to function, it also runs out quickly and the only way to refill it is by slowing down.

You can try this visualization exercise as part of your self-care tips and then practice it whenever you can – changing perspective like this will help you get rid of the guilt you feel when you’re trying to relax and allow you to finally enjoy lying on the beach without doing anything productive. And if you include some productive activities in your schedule, remember to take frequent breaks and focus on slow and steady progress instead of pressuring yourself to improve fast.

2. Prioritize and plan in advance while creating your self-care tips list

While the summer period is generally synonymous with rest, in reality, it can be a more challenging time than other months as that’s when most of us are hoping to book a holiday and often end up working overtime to be able to get away at all. Similarly, it might be difficult to focus on your routine knowing that your days off are getting closer or that there are a lot of fun events taking place at the same time.

To stay focused, make sure that you plan everything in advance (yes, spontaneous trips are fun but also a lot of extra stress we’re saying no to this season). First, talk to your boss and discuss your workload to know how to organize your time. Then, make a list of tasks you have to do before your holiday and divide them into more important and less important ones.

For example, if there’s a doctor appointment you’ve been postponing for a while, you should make sure to tick it off the list as soon as possible but if you wanted to hang out with your friends, it can probably wait. Additionally, it’s important to prepare your schedule for the time you’re back from your holiday. Settling back into your usual routine might be difficult since you’ve just spent a few days relaxing – it should be gradual and not too intense.

3. Live in the moment

Summer is the time for collecting happy memories but instead of focusing on documenting them, you should prioritize being present in the moment. And yes, you’ve guessed it - one of the most effective ways to focus on here and now is staying away from the Internet and electronic devices. Summer is the best time to get off the grid as social media will be flooded with adverts that encourage you to get a ‘beach body’ and holiday pictures that make it difficult not to compare your plans to other people’s.

And while if you want to binge-watch a TV series, you should, don’t forget to take advantage of the sunny weather and try to enjoy a simpler life. This means that you should avoid multitasking and ground yourself in the present whenever you do something mundane – for example, if you’re washing the dishes simply pay attention to the way your body moves, to what you can feel, see, or smell.

A good way to learn how to live in the moment is also practicing meditation. Even sitting down with your thoughts and focusing on your breath for a few minutes a day can be beneficial and allow you to slow down and appreciate the current moment a bit more. This is one of the easiest self-care tips you implement this summer.

4. Taking care of your body is the best self-care tip for summer

Take care of your body but not in the way you think. Instead of searching for a summer diet that can make you look better in a bikini, consider prioritizing your health and eating a lot of fruits and vegetables as they can lower your blood pressure, prevent diseases, and support your digestive system. Plus, the healthier you eat, the more your well-being improves.

Similarly, remember to wear plenty of sunscreens – UV not only increases the risk of cancer but also causes wrinkles and skin discoloration – and protect your eyes from direct exposure by purchasing glasses with the right protection. Lastly, don’t forget to hydrate yourself – replenishing your body with water is even more important when the temperatures increase.

Most of us think that we drink enough but don’t so the best way to make sure you do is by counting how many glasses you have per day or buying a bottle that measures your daily intake. Additionally, try to avoid drinking fluids that can dehydrate you such as caffeine, tea, and alcohol. Stay hydrated is one of the best self-care tips you can implement.

5. Strive to become happy

While it’s easier said than done, remember that you don’t need to achieve more or have more to be happy. The key to happiness is learning how to appreciate what you have and being content with who you are as a person even when you fail. To practice gratitude, try to start every day by writing down a few things you’re grateful for; these could be people in your life, good weather, your job or simply being alive. It doesn’t matter what those things are, the goal is to train your mind to focus on the positives.

If you struggle with self-esteem and feel good enough only when you succeed, it’s worth incorporating positive affirmations into your daily routine. You can stand in front of the mirror and give yourself a pep talk. Positive affirmations don’t have to be statements you fully believe in but every time you repeat them, try to visualize your life as if they were true. For example, you can tell yourself something like, ‘I’m doing well’, ‘I’m beautiful’, ‘I have great coping skills’, ‘I’m successful’, and so on. If you’re consistent with your practice, you’ll be able to see a change in your mood and confidence soon.

6. Discover your values

Having days off also means having the mental space to look inwards and reconnect with your needs. When we keep ourselves busy, we often fail to recognize our thoughts and emotions which can make us get stuck in a place we don’t necessarily want to be. While changes can be scary, sometimes they’re necessary and your priority should be to live according to your values even if it means quitting your job or ending your relationship. To learn what your values are, a good place to start is identifying the happiest moments in your life and considering what they meant to you.

For example, you might remember high school fondly because you had many friends and one of your values is a social connection or because you enjoyed learning new things and you value self-growth. To make this easier, you can keep a diary where you describe an event and outline what you liked and disliked about it. You can also take a test online if you want to get faster results.

7. Become active and incorporate exercise into your daily routine

One of the best ways to recharge batteries during summer is to combine lazy days with physical activity. If you’re one of those people who feel tired when temperatures increase, incorporating exercise into your schedule can keep your energy levels high and help you become more fit in the process.

But the one thing you should remember is to avoid exercising outside when the sun is strong and make sure you keep yourself hydrated or it will be counterproductive. You should also start small and gradually introduce exercise to your routine; for example, in the first week, you can go for evening walks and do yoga in the mornings, then have a go at cardio and other more strenuous exercises. A good idea is also to join a class that involves physical activity, where you can meet new people and learn a new skill on top of that.

8. Reconnect with friends to improve your mood

Whether you like it, you need to be able to bond with other people from time to time. Even if your social circle is wide, summer is a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends. It’s not only great for your mental health as it satisfies your basic need but also allows you to put some things into perspective.

For example, you might reminiscence old times and realize that things you used to worry about weren’t as important as you thought they were. If you have someone you could catch up with, simply send them a message and see how they respond. Show an interest in their life and try to connect with them – you might have gone separate ways, but people change and grow, and you might find some common ground.

9. Learn to let go

If spring is the time of new beginnings, summer is the time for drastic changes. Once you’ve discovered your values, you can evaluate if your goals align with them. This might be tricky to do because sometimes we’d rather live in denial than admit to ourselves that our current situation isn’t serving us, but you can start journaling to organize your thoughts. Writing about your feelings can help you decide if there’s something in your life that needs to be let go of.

If that’s the case, be gentle to yourself and remind yourself that no one’s path in life is simple and that sometimes it’s worth taking a step back because that’s the only way to go forward. Then try to come up with solutions for your situation; quitting your job on the spur of the moment might not be the smartest decision but maybe you could sign up for courses that would allow you to start a new career. Break the new goals down into smaller segments and make them a part of your routine, then commit to it.

10. Make a Bucket List

If you want to look forward to summer or the future in general, you should get round to making your Bucket List if you haven’t already. The best thing about it is that it makes you feel more excited about life and that it allows you to get out of your comfort zone. Plus, everyone needs novelty in their lives from time to time and your holiday is the best time to achieve it.

When you do make the list, remember to include realistic goals – traveling around the world is a great idea but you might not be able to afford it or quit a job so focus on something more achievable such as watching a play, asking a stranger out, or going to a festival. Making a Bucket List can give you a direction in life as it’s another great way to find out what your values are. If it’s filled with adrenaline-inducing activities, you might be craving adventure and it might be time to consider if the office job is for you, if it involves doing things with other people, you might want to focus more on your social life as part of the self-care tips you follow this summer.

Summer is ultimately a time for vacations, fun in the sun, and relaxation. It's also a time when many of us neglect ourselves, letting our self-care tips fall by the wayside. We get so caught up in the moment that we forget to take care of our bodies.

The Biggest Stress Management Myths

Do you feel stressed often? Or maybe you don’t even remember what it feels like not to experience stress at all? You aren’t alone. According to recent statistics, around 33 percent of people frequently experience stress. [1]

As Stress Awareness Month is approaching, it’s time to look at misconceptions about stress. The more you learn about how it works, the easier it will be for you to work on managing stressors in your daily life. 

So, let’s get straight to debunking some myths: 

1. Stress is always bad
It’s commonly known that stress is associated with poor mental wellbeing and physical symptoms, and it simply feels unpleasant. However, it is also an evolutionary response that allowed us to flee predators in the past. While the dangers of modern life can’t be escaped in a literal sense, stress still plays an important role in helping you survive and deal with your responsibilities. 

For example, imagine that you have a deadline at work, which makes you feel nervous because you really care about your job. That distress gives you the motivation to submit your work and resolve this feeling as soon as possible. 

Some psychologists such as Kelly McGonigal believe that stress shouldn’t be seen as the enemy and encourage people to see it in a more positive light. While investigating stress and looking at several studies, McGonigal found out that stress has a negative impact on people’s health but only if they view it as harmful. 

This might not be as dangerous as we previously thought it was and your attitude towards it matters. However, this doesn’t mean that your job is done here, and you can just forget stress management techniques and give up on changing your lifestyle. It means that changing the way you think about worries can adjust the way your body responds to it and give you the space you need to learn how to manage it in the long run. 

In her Ted Talk, McGonigal also mentions a study conducted by Harvard University, which findings revealed that participants who were taught to rethink their stress response, ended up feeling less anxious than participants who saw this as negative. 

What’s even more surprising, the first group’s physical stress response changed too; their blood vessels stayed relaxed as opposed to constricting more. So, the next time you feel stressed tell yourself that it’s okay to feel this way. Instead of seeing stress as your enemy, imagine that it’s your body’s way of preparing you for what’s to come and work with it, not against it.

2. Stress motivates you

At the same time, too much stress is never a good thing and might have the opposite effect. If you constantly feel distressed, you might become overwhelmed and lose the ability to prioritize tasks. Heightened stress levels might also affect your concentration, causing you to procrastinate more often. 

The more you delay completing a task, the more stressed you might feel and the less likely you’re to deal with it, which can trap you in a vicious cycle. Just like everything in life, stress is only beneficial in moderation. 

 3. Life is stressful so you can’t do anything to manage stress

If you think about it, there’s so little you have control over. Sure, it’s up to you to work towards your goals and make sure you live a fulfilling life but the unexpected can shatter your plans in an instant, a natural disaster, war, chronic disease, sudden death and so on. Even if you’re an optimist, you must admit that life is stressful and it’s difficult to take a break from daily responsibilities. 

However, it doesn’t mean that you should just accept being stressed and not do anything to try to manage it. If you let stress escalate, you might soon find yourself under chronic stress and suffer from many unpleasant health difficulties. The key is finding a technique that allows you to achieve your goals and fulfil your responsibilities without feeling too overwhelmed.  

4. Stress management techniques are one size fits all

Mindfulness, breathing, going for walks, doing yoga, eating healthy… I’m sure you’ve heard it all. And if you incorporate those techniques into your daily life, you should live stress-free, right? Unfortunately, it’s impossible to eliminate stress from your life and not every coping skill will suit everyone’s needs because we all have different personalities and deal with different life circumstances. 

People who are neurotic are more prone to overthinking and might need a different approach than people who have a more optimistic mindset. Similarly, while journaling can help some clear their minds, other people might find themselves stuck in their heads even more and people who are restless might find practicing mindfulness to be initially too frustrating, which will only add to their distress.

Additionally, while self-care is important, taking time to relax might not be enough to successfully reduce it. A helpful approach includes identifying your values and increasing activities that help you live according to these values. This approach will allow you to increase your sense of purpose and make you more resilient and equipped to deal with stress.

If you’re currently dealing with worries and don’t know where to start, choose one stress management strategy and if it doesn’t work, don’t give up. It’s easy to jump to conclusions and think there’s something wrong with you but remember that stress is complex. 

5. Stress looks the same to everyone

Stress manifests itself differently in everyone. Some people might experience racing thoughts, others increased heartbeat or sweaty palms and some a combination of both emotional and physical symptoms. Similarly, the impact of it will vary from person to person because we all handle things differently. Therefore, it’s so important to experiment with several stress management techniques and find the one that works for you specifically. 

6. You can always tell when you’re stressed

Do you ever give yourself a full-body scan and pay attention to where you experience stress in your body and how intense it is? Most people don’t bother analyzing their stress levels because they see it as something straightforward: you either feel on edge or you don’t. However, things aren’t this simple and it’s common to experience stress and not even realize it. 

For example, people who deal with prolonged but not acute stress might not notice a change in their mood but start getting unexplained pains, experience concentration problems or get sick more easily. If you have new symptoms that can’t be tied to any other diagnosis, stress is likely to be the culprit. 

7. You should start worrying about stress only when it gets bad

The longer you wait to deal with your worries, the more it escalates and the more difficult it gets to manage in the long run. While you’ll experience very few symptoms at first, you might end up feeling overwhelmed in the future. It’s best to treat every symptom as a warning sign and not delay seeking help because the consequences might be costly. 

For example, minor stress can be managed with lifestyle changes but if you ignore the problem, you might find yourself unable to work, lose your job as a result, neglect your relationships, and develop physical symptoms. Don’t wait until you can no longer cope and take care of your health as soon as you notice that something’s wrong. 

8. Sleeping well and eating right is all you need to reduce stress

A healthy lifestyle isn’t enough to cope with stress because it doesn’t get to the root of the problem. Eating well might help you improve your mood and getting the required amount of sleep will increase your focus but while these kinds of positive changes in your lifestyle are beneficial, you should also consider the source of your stress, not just treat the symptoms. 

For example, if work overwhelms you, it might be because you’re afraid of failure or don’t think you’re good enough. In that case, you’ll need to improve your self-esteem and reduce a tendency towards perfectionism. An important part of stress management isn’t just doing relaxing activities but also finding out where it’s coming from and working on correcting the problem.  

9. Stress management techniques aim to eliminate stress from your life

Contrary to what some people might think, avoiding everything that might cause you stress isn’t the goal here, not to mention that it’s not possible. If you try to avoid stress, you’ll never progress and you’ll be stuck in the same place in life. 

For example, you’d no longer attend job interviews, you’d stop going on dates and never take risks to achieve your goals. Learning how to manage it can help you become more resilient and facing a challenge helps you grow. 

10. Stress is just a reaction to what’s happening around us

A lot of people believe that stress is a natural reaction to what’s happening in their lives, which is true to some extent but also implies that we have little control over how we approach to stress. It is mostly a product of our thoughts. For example, consider the way people with social anxiety and those without it approach social situations and how their experiences might differ. 

The first group might feel stressed at the thought of meeting new people because they imagine worst-case scenarios while the second won’t think twice about it. Understanding this is important because it reminds you that modifying the way you think about stressful situations can help you change the way you react to them. 

11. Positive events don’t cause stress

Have you ever felt excited but worried at the same time? If you care about something and want to do it well, it’s natural to feel stressed even if the event or experience is positive. For example, findings from a study that looked at brides’ stress indicate that women who are engaged and dealing with wedding planning are more likely to be stressed. [3] 

While your wedding is supposed to be the happiest day of your life but very often comes with heightened levels of stress. Similarly, the main purpose of traveling is to go on a holiday but packing and planning might be stressful. 

12. Stress causes cancer

While prolonged stress can put you more at risk of developing certain health issues, it doesn’t directly cause them. Often, people turn to harmful coping skills as a result of stress, such as smoking or unhealthy eating, that might all contribute to developing cancer in the future. Believing that stress can cause cancer can only add to your distress. Instead of worrying about potential consequences, focus on what you can do to do better manage it. 

13. Stress is a mental health issue

While it can be debilitating, it’s not classified as a mental health issue or a disease. However, chronic stress is commonly associated with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression and puts you more at risk of developing them. Therefore, it’s important to seek help once you feel like things are getting out of control.

References:

[1] https://geekhealthjournal.com/stress-statistics/
[2]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306452214005387?via%3Dihub
[3] https://www.proquest.com/openview/c99993662fdb216ca2ce0c325834b8e3/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y