11 Ways to Prevent and Beat Stress

These are stressful times indeed. It is better to face the reality than brushing it under the carpet. All of us have moments of stress. It is prevalent in all areas of our lives. Stress can be caused by anxiety and it may also lead to it. Stress is generally due to a perceived lack of control. It is also prevalent when we feel we don’t have any time. One of the things I have learned is when stress is about to show up just stop everything you are doing and really understand what you are trying to do. Here are some musings on how we can nip the bud of stress.
Do something physical – I have heard a lot people say when you are stressful do some exercise. When you are under stress it is very difficult to motivate yourself to exercise. That’s the reason you are under stress. I would rather try to prevent stress by making physical activity a daily habit. This way it is a habit and since it is daily your chances of staving off stress is far easier. Right now the best is to find some exercise routine from the confines of your home. Situps, pushups, Jumping jacks and burpees. Even 10 min of exercise is good for overall health.
Get a good night’s sleep – If you sleep through 8 hours you are generally more relaxed. So again, prevention is better than cure. Make sure every week you are getting all the sleep you need to function at your best. If you are feeling very stressed try to completely sleep for eight hours that night and you will feel better next day.
Don’t send emails when you are stressed – The first thing to suffer when we are under stress is our thinking capacity. We have a shorter fuse and our tendency to respond in haste is far greater. So, keep your emails in draft and give some space between your reaction and response.
Step outside for a walk – One of the best ways to beat stress is to get some fresh air. Go out for a nice 10-minute walk and observe the environment. In general, you feel a lot calmer after that.
Take some time off – If you are going through a significant period of stress this maybe the ideal time to take a little bit of time off. It is time to recharge your batteries. It is probably better to schedule this relaxation into every week so that we are recharging our batteries on a regular basis. Sunday can be a day where you totally do your hobbies.
Watch something you like – Watching movies does take us out of our routine and transports us to various places. So, watch a movie once in a while and just enjoy yourself. This surely is a stress buster. Of course, some popcorn helps.
Write in a journal – I try to write in a journal every day of the week. It has been well established that when you write things down you feel a lot calmer. Just start writing everything that is in your mind. Mind dump is one of the best forms of relaxation.
Confide in a good friend – Communicating with friends is one of the best ways to be relaxed. They will be able to encourage you when you are down better than anyone else. You may not be able to meet them in person at this time but still communication is possible.
Perspective – These questions which I learned from the book Decisive is useful. Will this matter 10 minutes from now, will it matter 10 months from now, will it matter 10 years from now. If not don’t worry and it is better to stay away from any comparisons with others.
Read books – Everyone from Bill Gates to Elon Musk to Jeff Bezos to Oprah Winfrey to Richard Branson to Warren Buffet talk about the importance of reading. Despite their huge responsibilities they have found time in their daily schedule to engage in reading. It is truly a game changer and reduces the stress levels. It also gives you a new perspective on life. My reading list right now consists of Rise and Grind, What you do is who you are, Leadership tactics, Great by Choice and Grit to Great.
Having a cold shower – I am writing this just after a really cold shower. I have been doing this now for more than 6 months and it is very stress relieving. Of course try in small doses to see if this works for you. Again it is imperative to see if this really works for you. The benefits of cold showers are it wakes you up completely, reduced stress levels and increased blood circulation. Check this article Benefits of Cold Showers
There you have it some ideas to prevent and beat stress. Thanks for reading this post.
The views expressed in this article are my own and do not represent my organization. Thanks for reading this post.

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