Tired of living life in the backseat with stress in the driver’s seat? Coping with chronic stress is difficult, but we want to share some simple ways you can reduce stress levels and improve your state of mind and health. Here are some stress management tips that can help you take back control of your well-being.
Practice the 4 A’s.
When confronted with stressors in life, you have a couple of options. You can change the situation or change your reaction. This is when you can think about the 4 A’s, which can help you make a beneficial decision.
AVOID: Remove yourself from stressful situations or people. Learn to say “no”, analyze your to-do list, and find ways to reduce your physical and mental load.
ALTER: Stress is often unavoidable, so try to change it instead by switching up how you think and speak. Don’t neglect speaking up for yourself, expressing your emotions, dealing with issues straight on, and most importantly, looking for ways to balance your life.
ADAPT: If you’re unable to change the situation, you can try to modify how you manage stress. Reframe your way of thinking by looking at the bigger picture, practicing gratitude, and setting realistic standards for yourself and those around you.
ACCEPT: We all like to feel in control, but unfortunately, some stress is uncontrollable. Sometimes, the best way to cope with this type of stress is to simply accept it, forgive those who can be forgiven, talk through your feelings with someone you trust, and look for ways to grow through the situation.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Your body has a natural stress response and resistance, but when faced with too much stress over long periods of time, you can’t keep up. That’s why your daily habits and lifestyle choices are so important. Here are some things to keep in mind for reducing stress and improving your overall health:
- Move your body– physical activity helps with dopamine levels in the brain, boosting your mood and your energy!
- Eat a balanced diet– whole foods provide nutrients your body needs in order to handle stress and function at its best.
- Avoid self-medicating with drugs and alcohol– this simply masks your issues with only temporary relief.
- Get more sleep– stress and fatigue go hand in hand, so be sure you’re getting your 7 hours minimum each night.
- Improve time management skills– you can achieve a healthier work-life balance by not over-committing, breaking down projects into smaller tasks, and delegating whenever you can.
- Disconnect from screens– constant access to the news and social media can dampen being and living in the moment and stir up feelings of anxiety, discontentment, and other negative emotions.
- Relax and unwind doing things you love– make time for your hobbies, spend time with family and friends, and self-care!
These are some basic stress management tips that anyone can do! But we must also note that reaching out for help is never a bad thing. Talking with a therapist or health professional can help you discover coping strategies and areas of improvement, along with compassionate support.
Take a stress support supplement.
We offer several natural supplements that work to promote feelings of calm and enhance your body’s reaction to stress. Relax-Zen is a powdered drink mix that supports a relaxed mood and healthy blood pressure levels, as well as neurotransmitter function in the brain. Ingredients include GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), taurine, l-theanine, magnesium, and myo-inositol. Another great option is CephaloMag, a powder magnesium supplement that promotes better sleep quality, a balanced mood, and optimal cognitive function.
We hope you found these stress management tips to be helpful! Our team of holistic doctors want to support you in taking back control of your health, and that includes the mental and emotional aspects, too! Learn more about what we do at Revolution Health, specifically our naturopathic services. The certified Naturopath on staff works with patients regarding sleep hygiene, stress management, nutrition, exercise, and much more!
