Successful Lifestyle Changes for Combating Stress
Stress is a normal part of life, like it or not. It can be good for us, challenging our abilities and stimulating positive growth and adaptation. It’s only when we perceive the task or situational demands to exceed our ability to cope can stress become a negative, creating overload and potentially affecting every domain of life, to both ourselves and our loved ones.
How we respond to everyday stress as well as unexpected problems is a function of our private arsenal of coping tools. We learn to contend with stress primarily from our experiences with parents/family/friends/schools, with a boost from genetic influences.
Research has shown certain behaviors and activities as useful in bolstering one’s general resistance to becoming overstressed.
Following are some of these healthy behavioral choices you can use to assist with personal stress reduction:
1. Express your feelings, directly and diplomatically. Harboring feelings inside is like playing with a ticking time bomb that can explode at any moment, causing you mental/physical/social damage. Such a reservoir of stuffed feelings can compound one’s stress levels.
2. Indulging in a hobby or passion, sport or pastime you really enjoy adds a unique dimension of happiness to life.
3. Grow your own social garden of support, as this will nourish your sense of self and bring sunshine to your soul.
4. Exercise can produce feelings of well-being and increase neural endorphin levels.
5. Find a career or work you enjoy and do your best job, as this contributes purpose to life.
6. Help someone in need. There is nothing that decorates the soul like helping another.
7. Eliminate self-destructive habits, such as excessive eating, drinking, spending, sex, smoking, etc., as this only hinders one’s resources for dealing effectively with stressors.
8. Develop a few confidantes. A lack of intimates leaves you compromised during difficult times.
9. Believe in a higher power. Research shows that those who have a faith in God or a higher power are better able to deal with various life stresses, catastrophes, and illnesses.
10. Think positively. Tell yourself positive self-affirmations and surround your self with positive people. We all have a way of fulfilling our own self-prophesies.
11. Slow down or speed up, depending on your general weekly pace. Often depressed people need to pick up the pace, whereas high-action people need to wind down the pace to reduce general stress levels. Varying the usual pace for a day or two will make the difference.
12. Learn to do progressive relaxation exercises, meditation, and/or biofeedback.
13. Get some rest. Lack of sleep can hinder your ability to think clearly or act cogently, two necessities for serenity.
14. Eat healthy meals and snacks. Breakfast, for example, is an important meal to prompt sufficient glucose levels for analytical thinking and problem solving.