How To Relieve Stress and Anxiety

When you are faced with a stressful situation whether in your business or in your personal life it is very easy to worry, be anxious, get stressed and panic. In some circumstances, stress can be good for you but too much can result in you being unable to think straight, procrastination and poor performance.

Stress is different for all individuals, so there is no single solution to manage it. You may have to experiment to find what works best for you. Finding healthy, positive ways to deal with stress will add to your overall well-being.

I have put together some ideas and tips to help you when you are faced with feeling stressed or facing a stressful situation:

Prepare and plan ahead for Stress

Just like where businesses have a contingency plan for unexpected events and have procedures for different possibilities (e.g. a key member of staff is absent from work) in your personal life, you can also think in advance about preparing ahead.

Develop habits like making a schedule or a to-do list will increase productivity. So instead of running around in the morning wondering what to wear, lay out clothes the night before, or pack your gym bag and leave it by the door etc.

Look after yourself

If you are in good mental and physical shape you will be better able to handle a stressful situation. What we eat and drink largely impacts on our emotional state.

It is important therefore to look after yourself by avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking, or alcohol which dehydrates the body and ultimately increases anxiety and caffeine a stimulant commonly found in coffee, tea, chocolate and energy drinks, which can increase stress and anxiety.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the most important things you can do to help relieve mental stress. It can also help improve your mood, improve your sleep quality, increase alertness and make you feel more confident

It is known that people who exercise regularly are less likely to experience anxiety than those who don’t exercise, so try to find an activity you enjoy, such as walking, dancing, yoga, jogging or cycling, all of which can be particularly stress relieving.

Positive Mental Attitude

Maintaining a positive mental attitude is essential. When you think positively you will feel in control and more confident.

When confronted with a stressful situation, take a moment to visualise yourself having a positive outcome and handling the situation with calm, ease, and clarity. This can be done by focussing on past successes and hurdles you have overcome.

Relaxation

Relaxation rejuvenates the body, mind, and spirit and leaves us better equipped to handle stressful situations when they come.

Practicing mindfulness can help lower symptoms of anxiety, depression and negative thinking, therefore it may help to move into a different space and remove yourself from distractions, away from other people to have some quiet time alone,  to think things through.

Mediation can help. It is a simple technique that, if practiced for as few as 10 minutes each day, can help you control stress, decrease anxiety, improve cardiovascular health, and achieve a greater capacity for relaxation.

Supplementation

Anxiety can throw our bodies totally out of sync, which can affect our appetite/diet, therefore consider giving the body support by eating more foods that contain nutrients such as Vitamin B,  Omega/Krill Oil and Plant Derived Minerals. Studies have linked vitamin B with good mental health, and omega/krill oil may help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Laughter

I am sure you will have heard the saying that ‘laughter is the best medicine’. It’s hard to feel anxious when you’re laughing. It’s good for your health, and helps relieve stress and tension as well as improving your immune system and mood and also helps you feel more relaxed both physically and emotionally.

I have found that watching a funny film or TV show, or spending time with friends who make me laugh, a great way to relax and reduce stress.

Trust your knowledge, experience and intuition

When dealing with a stressful situation it is easy to forget to utilise all the knowledge and experience you already have. Remind yourself of the resources you already have and trust your knowledge, experience and intuition to help you handle the stressful situation.

Write things down

When things are stressful it is easy to rush straight into action, however it is best where possible to take a step back and not let the emotion carry you along. It is helpful therefore to write things down, particularly where there is an overload of information. This will help you formulate a plan and manage the situation more effectively.

Writing down what you’re stressed about is one approach which you may find helpful and another is writing down what you’re grateful for, as this helps you focus your thoughts on what’s positive in your life.

Ask for help from a mentor

Faced with a stressful situation you may try to handle it on your own, however, you may want to get some help or someone to talk to. This will provide not only practical assistance but also reassurance.

I hope that the above ideas and tips will help you to consider how to deal with stressful situations better in the future.

Book a 30 minute call with Irene where we will discover why you are getting stressed and I will offer solutions on how to overcome this.