Guest blog by Exos Fitness Coach Mada Laundrie
Stress is often defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is ultimately your human reaction or response that prompts us to face challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone will experience stress to some degree. The way we respond to stress, however, makes a huge difference to our overall well-being.
Here are some tips you can do to manage your stress.
- Get active!
Receiving a quality amount of physical activity can do wonders for reducing your stress. Not only does it allow you to take some time away from a possible stressful situation, but it also reduces your body’s stress hormones. Exercise also stimulates the production of endorphin, which are chemicals in the brain that are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators.
So, whether it’s getting some fresh air and going for a run or walk or having an epic dance party in your living room, getting active can help reduce your stress levels.
- Take mindful, breathing breaks.
Being mindful in a stressful situation is checking in with yourself to see how you are truly feeling. Taking a quick five minutes to check in with yourself and take some deep breaths can help reduce any immediate tension and relax your mind.
- Phone a friend.
Having a strong support system that you can talk to about your stressors is a great way to reduce any feelings of anxiety. This could be a close friend, family member, co-worker, or even a therapist. Talking through your stress is never a sign of weakness. This just allows you to get extra support and may help you work through the problem with a different point of view. Spending time with friends or family can also be a wonderful distraction. Those who are closest to you can often find a way to make you smile.
- Give yourself some grace and prioritize self-care.
Like taking some time to breath and be mindful, taking some time completely for yourself to reset and recharge from whatever you are doing is very important. This not only reduces stress but can also prevent burn out and allow you to be the best version of yourself. Self-care could be going for a nice walk, reading a book, taking a bubble bath, doing a facemask, you name it. Whatever allows you to rest and recharge is worth giving a chance.
Although stress is something we most likely can’t avoid completely, with the right tools and the proper mindset it can be managed with great resilience.
