[ad_1]
Looking for strategies to help you regain your composure from the daily stressors of work and life?
Here’s a helpful first step: Take a moment to name the feeling.
“It helps to understand where precisely your stress is coming from,” said Asha Shajahan, MD, medical director of community health at Corewell Health’s Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital and physician at Corewell Health in eastern Michigan. “For example: ‘I’m tired. I am upset.'”
Think carefully about why you may be feeling stressed. When you can identify the reason, it can help calm you down, Dr. Shajahan said.
Rebecca Hershman, LMSWpsychotherapist at Corewell Health in western Michigan, agrees.
“Acknowledging your stress and how it occurs can help you manage it,” Hershman said.
Here are some simple strategies to help you find calm in a storm:
1. Practice mindfulness
Being mindful – present in the moment – can be a great tool to defuse stress. Stress builds up in uncertainty. Learning to name your stress can help move it from an emotional place to a rational mind.
“Be aware of how your body feels,” Hershman said. “Acknowledge the feeling, but remember to step back and work through it. You can start by breathing deeply.
2. Optimize your fuel
Make sure your tank is full so you have energy to cope. “You can optimize your fuel by making sure you get enough sleep, eat well, take breaks and exercise,” Dr. Shajahan said.
When we are not at our peak physical condition, we are less able to cope with emotional stress.
3. Move your body
Cortisol is often called the stress hormone. It can affect every organ in the body, and it can even impact blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Exercising, even taking a five-minute break to move around, can help improve cortisol levels, Dr. Shajahan said. “Walking, biking, running are great ways to feel better.”
Hershman recommends walking your dog, and not just for exercise. “In fact, being around dogs or other pets can be a great stress reliever,” she said.
4. Cherish the silence
Being still and learning to enjoy the stillness can bring great benefits.
“Get rid of the noise,” Dr. Shajahan said. “A little time for prayer or meditation can calm you down.”
“Making time for positive self-talk can help,” Hershman said. “Be kind to yourself. Talk about it in your mind and ask yourself, “Is this a realistic fear that concerns me? »
5. Turn to your support system
Your family and friends can help provide a safety net when you feel overwhelmed or exhausted.
“Having a strong support system can be a protective factor against stress,” Hershman said.
Sharing your worries can alleviate them. The people who know us best can also offer advice and help put our problems into perspective.
“Nurture your relationships so you have a support network available when you’re in trouble,” Dr. Shajahan said.
6. Have a good laugh
It’s true, sometimes laughter is the best medicine. It can increase your heart rate and bring more oxygen to your blood, and it can help relieve the physical symptoms of stress.
If you can’t laugh, try smiling. It can release molecules, called neuropeptides, that help provide a sense of well-being and reduce stress-induced illnesses, Dr. Shajahan said.
“Laugh often,” she says. “It’s good for you. Try not to take everything too seriously and remember: imperfection is perfection. Stress is often caused by being eaten up by perfection.
7. Look on the bright side
Laughter and smiles promote good health, which can help boost your immune system. But when laughter may seem out of reach, positive thinking can have a similar effect.
As the saying goes, every dark cloud has a silver lining. Seek. A feeling of gratitude can reduce stress when you focus on what is going well in your life, rather than what seems to be going wrong.
8. Ask for help
Talking to a professional can make all the difference. Whether in person or virtually, find a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist that matches your needs and personality.
[ad_2]
Source link
