Whether it’s from a busy work week, a hectic semester of classes, a chaotic home life or a financial burden, we all feel the ill-fated effects of stress from time to time. Stress can leave us disoriented, easily irritable and scatterbrained. Contrary to what many believe, you’re not the only one who deals with stress!
Chronic stress can have a negative impact on your work and physical performance. Knowing how to manage stress can take a huge weight off your shoulders and can help you remain focused even if the most chaotic situations. Give these simple techniques a shot the next time you’re feeling stressed.
How do you relieve everyday stress?
There are many ways that may help you relieve everyday stress. These ways include:
1. Positive Self-Talk
One of the best methods to combat stress is self-talk. We have all make-believe arguments, conversations and situations floating around in our head all day long. Turning these make-believe thoughts into positive self-talk can help you calm down and take the stress out of the equation.
The idea is to turn negative self-talk like “why do bad things always happen to me?” into a positive. Here are some examples:
- “I can’t believe I messed up that presentation at work, I’m so dumb” > “Everyone makes mistakes, I’ll do better next time”
- “Why do bad things always happen to me?” > “I know I can get over this, I’ve done it before.”
- “I’m so overwhelmed with work I’ll never finish” > “I’m going to take this one step at a time and do the best that I can.”
You can practice positive self-talk anytime, anywhere. Pump yourself up in your car on the way to work, tell yourself that you’re going to crush the day! It’s also a great idea to teach kids the importance of positive self-talk.
2. Take a Break From The Stress With One of These Techniques
We all need a break every now and then. Give your brain and your body some time off from highly stressful situations, even if it’s only a two-minute walk to the restroom and back. Look for a distraction to distract you from the things that are stressing you out.
If you have pets, give them some loving or take the dog out on a short walk. If possible, sleep on a situation and gauge how you feel about it tomorrow, more often than not, it’s not as serious as you initially believed. Turn on some music and take some slow, deep breaths until your body un-clench a little bit.
3. Engage in Stress-Busting Activities
When stress is threatening to ruin your day, engage in some stress-busting activities. Even if you only have 10-15 minutes, these activities can go a long way in helping you feel better. Some of these activities include:
- Heading to the gym for a workout
- Reading a book or magazine
- Taking a walk outside
- Work on a home improvement project
- Meditating
If you have the time, these activities can help alleviate the stress you are feeling. Some of these activities only take five minutes or less, so they’re easy to squeeze into your day.
4. Use Essential Oils to Reduce Stress
I use Young Living essential oils to help my clients reduce their stress. They have a few products that I recommend to help you relax:
- Stress Away Essential Oil – Stress Away features Copaiba which has a history of beneficial properties in topical application.
- Lavender Essential Oil – Lavander is a popular beginner oil, has a great scent and is very versatile from skincare to relaxation.
- Peace and Calming Essential Oil – Peace and Calming Essential Oil is a gentle, sweet blend of Ylang Ylang, Orange, Tangerine, Patchouli, and Blue Tansy.
There are several different ways to apply essential oils. Some of those ways include:
- Diffusing – Placing the oils in a diffuser which releases a noticeable aroma in your workspace.
- Place on your back and neck – Direct application of essential oils to your skin can help with headaches and maintain healthy skin.
- The raindrop technique – The raindrop technique is a massage technique where essential oils are dropped 6 inches above your spine, simulating raindrops. The sessions typically last an hour but the benefits can be felt for weeks.
Allowing yourself to stay stressed out can have negative effects on your health. It’s important to find things that work for you so your body can relax and heal.
