Practice Self-care
Self-care is not just going to the spa or enjoying some retail therapy. It means taking care of yourself, every day. The old saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup” means that you must take care of yourself, so you can take care of others.
So, real self-care is making sure you get enough sleep, feed your body foods that are good for it, and move your body in ways that feel good to you. Enjoy nature, connect with friends and family, and practice a hobby.
Focusing on yourself will go a long way in learning to manage your stress.
Build Community
People with strong social support networks report less stress and overall improved mental health.
You can enjoy community in a group setting, like church or a sports team, or on a more individual basis, like playing music in a small group or playing chess. The benefit is from connecting with others who share your passion and interests.
Let Go of Perfectionism
No one hits it out of the park every time. And most likely, others have more leeway for you than you do for yourself.
Being a perfectionist can work against you too, because you will always hold others to the standards which you hold yourself. Even if you do this subconsciously, if you are hard on yourself when you make a mistake, you will be hard on others too.
Start with giving yourself a break and you’ll likely see yourself responding to stress in a different way.
Refuse to Play the Stress Game
While it can be tempting to wear your stress like a badge of honor, being stressed diminishes your enjoyment of life. Unchecked stress can turn toxic, which will negatively affect your relationships; at home, work, and with friends.
Improve Your Time Management Skills
Often, stress is due to an overpacked schedule. Whether you have a hard time saying no to invitations, or just like being busy, running from activity to activity and meeting to meeting is stressful.
Building in breaks and time to breathe will make a big difference. Start with scheduling 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon to do something to help you de-stress. You’ll like find that you have increased clarity and productivity when you do.
Keep Things in Perspective
Catastrophizing is a common trap of negative thinking. To break the cycle, ask yourself – what’s REALLY the worst thing that could happen? And what is the likelihood of that happening? Remember, no matter how bad (or good) things are right now, they will change.
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is the antidote to anxiety and stress. Gratitude is such a powerful emotion, other negative emotions, like anxiety, fear, and anger, can’t also exist in your mental space. Practice gratitude during a stressful moment by listing 3 things you are grateful for – and the best part is, you don’t have to list things that are related to what is stressing you out.
Being grateful for anything will break a cycle of stress or anxiety. For lasting effects, create a daily practice where you write down the 3 things you are grateful for every morning.
Reframe
Next time you are feeling stressed, take a moment and give yourself some credit for your abilities and accomplishments. Try to see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. Overcoming the fear of failure is only accomplished by doing things you fear repeatedly, resolving to bounce back, and learning throughout the process.
Learn to Meditate
Meditation has numerous proven health benefits, including relaxation and stress management. Learning to meditate can be stressful in itself, so make sure to try when you are feeling calm. Meditation is really about letting your thoughts roll through your mind without focusing on any one thought in particular. When you learn to notice a thought and let it go in the moment, you are meditating.
Enjoy Nature
Studies show that spending time in nature can reduce stress and improve your sense of well-being. Whether you embark on a multi-mile hike or sit on your patio to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, nature will help calm your body, mind and soul.
