“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” -William James
Stress is our reaction when we are overwhelmed with pressure. It is inevitable, and its persistence can lead to physical illness and emotional imbalance. We experience stress in every situation, be it at work, home, or in a social setting. From the smallest reason to a bigger cause, stress can crawl into our lives in its respective magnitude.
But the easiest way to solve an issue is to stop participating in the problem. No, I am not asking you to make stress vanish from your lives altogether. It’s time to find ways to get smarter. This article will list some easy ways of managing stress at work, home and everywhere else.
8 Ways to Smartly Manage Stress
Change what you can
Stress emanates from a challenge that often looks daunting to us, like bringing up children, presenting a seminar before a huge audience, having to juggle many responsibilities, health issues, or death of a relative. The crucial step here is to understand the intensity of the cause. Can you do something about it? What are your strategies for managing stress? Work on the change. However, when you cannot change the situation, evaluate what positive results can stress bring? That simple realization will help you accept the situation.
Shift your focus to Wellness of Body
Stress is the root cause of many illnesses like digestive issues, migraine, diabetes, asthma, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, etc. One of the methods of managing stress is to eat the right kind and quantity of food. Consume organic food and ensure the intake of enough proteins and carbohydrates. Get out in the sunlight and stay off your gadget for at least 30 minutes after you rise from the bed. It’s also important to keep your body active through exercise and yoga. When you are fit physically and do not allow yourself to overthink, your actions make up for the stress. Sick people succumb to stress sooner than fit people.
“Health is not mere absence of disease; health is being established in the self. Health is the dynamic expression of life.”
-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Rely on Self-Discipline
For managing stress at work, self-discipline is extremely important. When you set targets for yourself and meet them diligently, you remove any scope of stress. It also helps you stay prepared with action plans when things go unplanned. Self-discipline helps you rely on routines that reduce the burden of your responsibilities and allows you to prioritize.
“Life teaches you the art of letting go in every event. When you have learned to let go, you will be joyful and as you start being joyful, more will be given to you.”
-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Find hooks to Calm your Mind
There are many methods of managing stress, such as meditation and mindfulness. Doing meditation for at least fifteen minutes can bring peace to an agitated mind. Mindfulness too, helps focus on the present and fight mood swings and sleep deprivation. These methods are natural, relax your mind, and aren’t difficult to incorporate into life. You can also try other methods that involve giving some time to your hobbies like reading books, singing, painting, etc. that bring you inner peace and help relieve stress.
Make use of Technology
One of the ways to get smarter in managing stress is knowing how to make use of technology in the pursuit. There are many apps available on the internet that help track your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing pattern, and send you alerts. You can also set up medication reminders, resort to meditation apps that guide, and get assistance from renowned doctors virtually if necessary. Research shows that adults find relief from psychological distress by using social media. Social media, if used appropriately, is a great outlet for effective communication, and prevents loneliness by getting you back in touch with people dear to you.
Know how to Manage Time
Time management is an essential key to a stress-free life. When you establish slots for your daily tasks (like exercise, work, eating, sleeping, etc), it’s rare to miss anything out. Such clarity not only helps you efficiently manage your day, but also takes you closer to your goals. Time management allows you to stay on track while saving you extra minutes at the end of the day, to reflect on your day’s accomplishments, and plan for the next day.
Talk with someone
Stress can also be a result of bottled-up emotions. When you feel you need help, seeking out support is the smarter way to deal with stress. Talk to a friend or family member about what’s bothering you. If that doesn’t help, seek therapy and get in touch with a mental health professional. There are many support groups too that help you deal with stress in healthier ways by sharing their experiences.
Set Boundaries
Some people find it hard to say no to additional responsibilities. This additional work pressure soon stresses and wears them out. So, it's essential you set your boundaries and politely deny anything that can be the cause of stress in your life. This will also help you manage your time effectively and complete your tasks at hand with undivided attention.
One of the key strategies for managing stress is to reflect on what you think and how. Everyone has a unique way of perceiving things and stress can affect differently to different people. While some people like to stay positive, some people like to face the reality, as optimism does not work for them. The way to smartly deal with stress is to acknowledge your feelings and know your motivation. Reflection and self-talk on a daily basis can bring more clarity and leave no scope for stress to appear.
“Be stress-free- keep your body, mind, and spirit free from stress. It is not a one-time job; it is something that has to be done over and over again, like keeping your teeth clean; like dental hygiene.”
~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Controlled breathing through Sudarshan Kriya is a great way to relieve stress, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. Join us here and feel more awakened in every moment of your life.
