Do you ever feel stressed? The American Psychological Association’s latest study shows that stress levels are going up in America. We are stressed about work, money and the economy. I’m stressed about those things and many others, and I’m guessing you might be as well. Recently, I’ve tried more stress relief / stress management methods than I can count. In honor of May being “Mental Health Month”, here is a rundown of what has worked for me and can work for you, too.
photo:
Wiertz Sébastien
Mindfulness and meditation
photo: Wiertz Sébastien
If you thought meditation was a “new age” thing, think again. More and more people are practicing meditation. Even the Mayo Clinic is touting the benefits of meditation. Taking 5, 10 or even 30 minutes out of your day to clear your head will almost certainly have a positive impact on your stress level. The best part of meditation is that you can do it anywhere–no classes, props or investment required. You just need a few minutes to spare.
How to start: After you finish reading this post, go sit somewhere quiet and take 5 minutes to close your eyes and quiet your mind.
Starting a new project
One of the best benefits of starting a new project is that it gives you something to focus on other than the stress in your life. The feeling of working toward something big will override some of your stress. Your new project could be a blog, a business, a book or something else entirely.
How to start: Brainstorm a list of potential projects. Only you will know what you’ve always wanted to do.
Yoga and other exercise
Exercise is good for your body and your mind. It’s clear that exercise helps people who are feeling stressed and depressed. It kickstarts your endorphins, improves your mood and helps you sleep better. I’m highlighting yoga because it’s often called “physical meditation”. It’s meditation that utilizes your whole body, including your brain.
How to start: Pick an activity you’d like to try. It might be yoga, running, bellydancing, pilates, mountain biking, etc. Find an introductory class and sign up.
Volunteering and helping others
When you’re feeling stressed, it can be hard to find the motivation to sign up for a volunteering commitment. The benefits are definitely worth it, though. You’ll feel good about yourself and have a new sense of meaning and purpose in life. It will also help you put things in perspective: your problems won’t feel so insurmountable when you are working with someone who is going through a much more difficult period in their life.
How to start: Identify a few organizations that help a cause you care about, then look for volunteer opportunities on their websites.
Making changes
Sometimes something as little as organizing a messy desk can help you feel less stressed. Another big part of making changes is saying “no” more often. It’s hard to say “no”, but taking on more commitments is usually the last thing you need when you’re feeling stressed out. Say “yes” to the things that help you, but don’t be afraid to say “no” when the time just isn’t right. You may not be able to change everything that is causing you stress, but you can probably change something.
How to start: Identify one thing that stresses you out during the week and design a plan to make it less stressful. If making dinner for your family after a long day at work stresses you out, try dividing up the cooking duties or making a weekly meal plan each Sunday.
In honor of May being Mental Health Month, I’ll be writing more in-depth posts about all of the stress management techniques I mentioned here. Check back or follow me on Twitter if you want to learn more about mindfulness, yoga, starting your own business or other stress-management techniques.
Exercise.
That’s it. When I don’t exercise at least 4 days a week I become depressed, distracted and discouraged. Exercise makes everything better.
Thanks Elan!
Mike
I agree that exercise is the #1 for me. I find yoga is ideal because it combines deep breathing with physical movement.
Thanks for coming to visit, Mike!
Meditation. It seems like such a simple word, but it has the power to chgane your life, attitude and priorities. There are times when I sit down to meditate and my puppy mind starts to wander. It’s amazing the things your mind will come up with to keep you from being quiet and restful. All the errands that need to be run, all the things that need attending to .. I breathe and concentrate on my breath and tell my mind to take a break. I breathe and breathe in and out and then THERE IT IS. The colors I see when I close my eyes and get in the zone of wonderful glorious breath. As I breathe the colors deepen and my body starts to calm and disappear. And just for that 15 or 20 minutes (sometimes even 10) I am at one with everything. I’m calm and tuned in to me and my connection to this universe and beyond. As I come back into myself my breath steady, my heart beat in time with life, I open my eyes and its as if I am seeing the world in technicolor. I notice things I didn’t before my practice, and for a few hours afterward I see the world as a kinder, gentler place. Because for a few hours I am a kinder and gentler being. Namaste’
Hi Elan,
A short nap or sleep does it for me. A funny movie, a good novel or just doing nothing also helps.
I’ve heard many good things about the benefits of exercising first before starting work for the day. I’ve tried it a few times and yes, it felt good. I just need to work on it more and commit to a regular schedule.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Theresa Torres recently posted..Financial Infidelity: Marriage and Money
A movie or book in bed are great ideas! I have never been able to take a nap during the day, but I envy people who can.
I try to exercise in the morning but only for about 15-30 mins. I save my big (draining) workouts for the evening.
Thank you for stopping by, Theresa!
I like to run to relive stress. There was an article recently saying the runner’s high is the same high as smoking weed. Hahaha. I can’t compare but it does feel good after a long run.
I keep saying I want to set aside just five mins a day to mediate but I’ve been saying that for months!
Happy birthday! Hope it’s a wonderful one.
Benny recently posted..Need Some Tough Love? Read this Now.
Thank you for the birthday comment, Benny! I also like to run. I feel like running + yoga has been the perfect combination for me because the running makes my body stiff and the yoga loosens it up.
It can be really hard to start meditating. I did the same thing for awhile… it only takes 5 mins, but I’d never want to take the time to just stop everything and sit. I have to be doing something! It was really difficult to start meditating, but I enjoy it now.
Hello
Great post, thank you for practical tips that are worth adapting to everyday life. I think one of the most important things that people should do to live a stress free and healthy life is spending some time outside. A breath of fresh air is great to reduce stress and improve health.
Taking small breaks is extra important for people stuck in the office all day. A great way to manage office stress is to take some breaks, step outside for a minute or two. It helps to clear the mind and you feel much fresher afterwards.
Wishing you lots of good posts in the future
Emilia
Emilia recently posted..Smart Workplace Stress Management Activities
That’s so true–getting some fresh air can make a big difference.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
I like to take a nice hot shower, away from everyone and drenched in my favorite smelling soap to relieve my stress and just escape for a while
Love the comment about mindfulness. It’s one of the things we stress (no pun intended) to our clients and we even have a section on our site dedicated solely to ‘mindfulness’. Meditation is a form of self-awareness that some simply try to avoid but it is the key to calmness and self-possession in the face of anxiety.
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