You may not always be aware of the stress that surrounds you. Instead you just carry on in your usual way. Slowly you start to feel tired, you lose your ability to focus and you just don’t enjoy life the way you used to!
All of the above are effects of stress. Stress is known as the silent killer and it definitely creeps up on you without warning. So how do you know if you have too much stress in your life?
Some of the first signs of stress in your life are health related. Stress can affect your body, your muscles start to ache for no reason and you suffer from headaches. Your mental focus is altered as well. Your concentration levels drop, your interest in certain things disappear. Plus your overall enjoyment of life decreases.
It is important to be aware of these symptoms and to take action. Stress is just the first step on a road that could potentially lead to things like suffering from a heart attack, or having to deal with anxiety or depression.
The problem is that stress is everywhere. You have to deal with the day to day stress in your life. This includes the normal running around of preparing for work each day, getting your kids off to school and taking care of your home. This is all before you have even had a chance to do something nice for yourself!
At work you are pressured to get your job done on time, you may be asked to work extra hours, or take on additional tasks when someone is sick or on vacation.
You oblige, as you don’t want to be a whiner, but all this does is increase your stress levels.
It is vital that you learn how to say no. You want to make an effort to get some ‘me time’, that 30 minutes a day where you do nothing but focus on yourself! Without that you could be on the road to health issues, both mental and physical.
On top of this stress jumps out at you from the television, on the internet and even in newspapers. You read about tragic events that can be upsetting. You may feel pressured into needing to buy a better car or to get the newest Smartphone that was just released.
When you think about all of these things, no wonder you feel as though you are living in a whirlwind. Start today and make a point of finding some small way of spending just a few minutes on you! Unplug, unwind and relax.
Easy Ways to Cope with Stress
It is extremely hard to avoid stress these days. You have to deal with stress at home, with your children, at work and possibly even with an aging family member. While you may not be able to escape stress entirely, there are ways that you can deal with stress.
Finding simple solutions to reduce your stress levels is critical. Otherwise, if you allow stress to build up, your health can suffer. Use the following easy tips to lower your stress levels on a regular basis.
- Walking This is the perfect way to reduce your stress. Just getting outside and enjoying nature and fresh air can do wonders for you. You don’t have to go far to walk outdoors. Find a local park or walk down by a river or beach. You may enjoy going for a solitary walk or you may find walking with your spouse relaxing.
- Moving at work There is no denying that your job is a huge cause of stress. Make a point of getting up from your desk and moving around. Walk to the bathroom and splash cold water on your face. Take a walk and get a drink of water. Try to get up at least once an hour and move around. Even stretching at your desk is a good way to reduce stress.
- Stress balls These small balls can do wonders for you mentally and physically. As you become stressed your muscles start to tighten. If you suddenly seem to get more neck, shoulder and back pain, this could be due to stress. Use a stress ball to massage your hands and relax your muscles.
- Controlled breathing Learning how to perform deep breathing exercises can help to significantly reduce stress. This is particularly useful at work, if you are suddenly placed into a stressful situation, you can reduce your stress and tension by breathing deeply for a few minutes.
- Sleep Go to bed a little earlier so that you can get enough sleep. Sleep helps to restore your body and relaxes your muscles. When you don’t sleep enough, or your sleep is poor, you wake up feeling tired and anxious. You really want to feel refreshed and re-energized each morning. Aim for 7 to 8 hours sleep each night.
By learning to take action when you are feeling stressed, your stress levels will remain much lower. This means that you will start feeling better more quickly, and that you won’t be carrying your burdens with you for days on end.
