Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’m so stressed!” Maybe you feel that way right now. Stress is a warning sign that something is not right. Although it is unpleasant to live with, it has helped us survive through generations of dangers. Still, if you see that there are no active threats around you, stress is not helpful and can cause more problems than necessary. In this article, we will share how to stop stress when you feel stressed.
I’m Too Stressed: 13 Ways to Stop Stressing
1. Practice meditation
Guided meditation is a great way to manage stressful feelings. There are numerous types of meditation that you can practice that will help you stop feeling stressed. If you struggle with feelings of anxiety, you can meditate for anxiety. If you are trying to find the exact location of tension in your body, you can do a body scan meditation. Or if you want to release more positive energy, a loving kindness meditation. If your anxiety is causing feelings of anger or frustration, meditation for anger can help. Meditation can help calm the mind and calm mental chatter so you can manage your anxiety with a clear mind. That way, you can stop stress in its tracks.
2. Practice deep breathing
Shallow breathing is a common reaction to being too stressed. However, shallow breathing is not healthy. Although this is a common reaction to anxiety. When you’re having a panic attack, slowing down and deepening your breathing will help you get rid of the feeling of anxiety flowing through you. When you are anxious, you breathe through your chest. But the normal and healthy way to breathe is through the stomach. So, whenever you feel stressed, change your breathing by deep belly breathing to slow down your heart rate and relax.
3. Exercise more
When we feel stressed, sometimes it makes us stronger. You can feel the anxiety coursing through your veins. When this happens and you find your fight or flight activated, it’s best to practice. After all, your body wants you to move, literally fight or flight. You can take an online boxing class or run around the neighborhood to relieve stress. Pay attention to your thoughts during exercise. It’s normal to have thoughts, and sometimes people can get stuck in thought loops. If possible, use your time to focus on your movements as you practice instead of getting stuck in your head. Chat with others if it helps you focus better on your training.
4. Take care of yourself
There are tons of self-care ideas you can try when you’re stressed. From relaxing in a hot tub to venting your anger, you’ll find activities to suit your mood and energy level. There are many relaxing activities you can do when you feel tired or mentally drained, such as meditation, reading, gratitude or prayer. However, sometimes our stress makes us stronger, and so dancing, jogging, lifting weights, or doing social activities can help us feel more relaxed. Think about what energy you have and consider self-care activities for that energy level. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Choose self-care activities that make you feel revitalized and nourished after a bad day.
5. Delegate tasks
When you’re feeling stressed, consider delegating some of your tasks. Having someone to share your workload can help give you more time to invest in your mental health. If you have work stress, delegating some tasks to a colleague can help reduce the stress. If you’re stressed at home while raising young children, asking family members for help can help you take a break when you need it. There is always someone willing to help you if they know you need support. Find an ally you trust to help you with some of your responsibilities, especially if you’re feeling very stressed. If you feel like you have too much to do and don’t have enough time to do it all yourself, prioritizing your tasks and delegating some will help you complete your to-do list without getting overwhelmed.
6. Turn off your brain
Turning your brain off for a bit can be helpful for those who are stressed. Often when we are stressed, our mind becomes very active. It’s common to have thoughts that make you feel out of control. Turning off your brain in the evening by surfing social networks, watching TV or reading a book can help you relax. But this unconsciousness can become a bad habit if done too often. Some people go on a social media detox when they realize how stupid they are on social media. So it’s a balance between finding things that turn your brain off without turning it to mush. When you feel mentally exhausted, you can also turn off your brain by resting.
7. Give air to friends
Being stressed can make you experience a variety of emotions. Sometimes you just have to let it all go. You can talk to your friends about things that stress you out. Remember that your friends are not therapists. When you go to them, ask them for comfort instead of a solution. You don’t necessarily want to follow your friend’s advice because some people, even if they mean well, don’t know the best solution for you. Instead, go to your friends for moral support. Just tell them you want to listen without offering any advice. They can be your sounding board to prevent you from voicing your thoughts. But that’s what you should use your friends for when you’re stressed. If they offer to help you with some tasks to lighten your load, be grateful and accept it. This will make them feel that they have helped and you would do the same for them.
8. Talk to a therapist
Finding a therapist you can trust is helpful for those feeling stressed. Having a professional you can discuss your stress levels with can be a great way to get things off your chest with an unbiased person. Friends and family can sway your decision. However, usually a therapist will ask you questions to help you make up your own mind about what to do. It’s not about your therapist presenting you with a solution to your problem. This is to help you put your situation in a different perspective to help you see the next steps more clearly. Sometimes, even with the best intentions, family and friends don’t give you the support you need to make the best decision for you. A therapist will usually not cloud your judgment. It’s about making sure you’re doing what’s best for you.
9. Remember that stress is temporary
When you feel stressed, remember that stress is temporary and fixable. Avoid making permanent decisions for temporary problems. When you feel stressed, you can change many aspects of your life, such as your job, where you live, your partner, etc. There is no need to be trapped in the life you are in. Making big life decisions can be difficult, especially if you have low self-esteem or struggle with confidence. However, even if you are afraid to take the first step, deep down you know how to solve your problems. You can fix whatever is causing your stress. It is entirely up to you whether you take a leave of absence from school or work, or change schools or jobs. You will know when to pause and when to leave. Just don’t ask yourself. You deserve good things.
10. Find a new job
It’s easy to tell if your job is stressing you out. However, we often punish ourselves by staying longer than necessary, especially in toxic environments. We may feel that the pay is good and it will be difficult to find another job that pays well. However, there are many high-paying jobs with less stress. You just need to apply. Making the switch may be just what you need. If you feel like you’re having a nervous breakdown or feeling depressed, there’s no point staying in a miserable work environment. Your mental health and well-being should be prioritized over any job. Jobs can be changed, you can’t. Not all work environments are toxic, find a company culture that you can easily adapt to. You’ll need to ask some tough questions in interviews to explore the culture, read company reviews online, and get input from people who currently work there to determine if it’s a good place for you.
11. Hire a babysitter
If your home life is causing you to feel very stressed, it may be time to call in some reinforcements. A few hours each week with a babysitter, a grandparent, or a friend’s parents can be just what you need to give yourself some much-needed time off. Raising young children can be stressful, especially if most of the parenting work falls on your shoulders. Stress can put a strain on your work relationships, marriage, and mental health. Taking a few hours a week to relax, clean, or run errands can be a huge relief to yourself. Finding someone you trust to care for your children can be difficult. So choose one that is responsible and that your children like. You can take turns with the children’s other parents to help each other find time for themselves when needed.
12. Take some alone time
When you’re feeling stressed, it’s time to spend time alone. Sometimes you just need to recharge those batteries and take some time for yourself. You can spend your free time playing video games, watching movies or shows, surfing social media, or reading books. Anything that helps you to improve your mental health, take a break and relax, you should think that you are alone. Do activities you enjoy. Whether it’s drawing, exercising, or sleeping, you need some time. There are countless activities you can do when you’re stressed that will help relieve stress. Sometimes being alone to heal is just what you need to feel ready to tackle your issues again. Not being influenced by other people’s opinions will allow you to make the best decision for yourself.
13. Practice self-compassion
When you’re feeling stressed, it’s time to practice some self-compassion. Often when we are stressed, we treat ourselves badly. We beat ourselves up, fill our minds with negative thoughts and spiral. Be kind to yourself. You can try some self-compassion exercises, such as loving-kindness meditation, positive affirmations, or practicing gratitude. Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones can also be helpful in changing your attitude during times of stress. The world can be harsh and cold. You don’t need to treat yourself that way either. Fill yourself with kindness and find joy in yourself when chaos surrounds you. You can’t change what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it.
The result
It’s normal to feel stressed from time to time. But if your stress levels have been rising for a long time, it’s time to stop them in their tracks. Meditation, self-compassion, and making changes to your environment can help reduce stress to overcome this temporary chaos. Remember that reducing stress is possible and that it is a problem that can be solved. It will be important to look for solutions to help you relieve your stress so that you can live comfortably and as stress-free as possible.
