{"id":60487,"date":"2018-10-23T16:53:32","date_gmt":"2018-10-24T00:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=60487"},"modified":"2018-10-29T20:10:17","modified_gmt":"2018-10-30T04:10:17","slug":"3-major-ways-to-tackle-stress-in-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/3-major-ways-to-tackle-stress-in-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Major Ways to Tackle Stress in Your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Everyone agrees: <\/span>Stress is terrible<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s the thing that keeps you awake at night and unable to enjoy your day. Sometimes stress helps us prioritize the things that need doing now, but more often than not, it\u2019s a terrible feeling that sucks the life out of you. At its worst, stress can increase your chances of heart attack, harm your immune system, decrease sexual function, and wreck your digestive system. Stress can come from your work, your personal life, or your environment, and it can <\/span>manifest in a multitude of (not great) ways<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Battling stress is a part of caring for yourself and your body. \u00a0How do you get out from under the crushing weight of stress and get your life back on track?<\/span><\/p>\n

The Art of Self-Care<\/span><\/h2>\n

The best way to combat stress is to practice the art of self-care. Self-care can be hard for a lot of people, especially those with busy lives who are used to putting work and the needs of others ahead of their own needs. <\/span>Moms are especially prone to struggling with putting themselves first<\/span><\/a>. Self-care is as much a part of thriving as eating and sleeping. It\u2019s caring for yourself mentally, replenishing that spring of mental wellness and energy so that you\u2019re able to do the things you need to do. When you\u2019re busy, schedule time for self-care the way you would a doctor\u2019s appointment. <\/span><\/p>\n

So what counts as self-care? Anything that leaves you happy, satisfied, and rejuvenated: massages, time spent with a friend or romantic partner, watching a movie you enjoy, or anything that makes you laugh. Examine the things that make you genuinely happy and fulfilled, and when you find yourself lagging, indulge. <\/span><\/p>\n

Practice Changing the Way You Think<\/span><\/h2>\n

Getting out of a funk is hard to do. When you\u2019re super stressed, it\u2019s easy to fall into a black hole of negative thinking. Practice changing the way you think. If you\u2019re plagued by negative thoughts, flip them around into something positive. It\u2019s hard to do, especially when you feel buried by worry. The more you practice, the more you\u2019ll lean towards positive thinking naturally. You\u2019ll be happier in the long run. <\/span><\/p>\n

Kick Social Media<\/span><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a ton of evidence that social media is bad for us. <\/span>Deleting Facebook<\/span><\/a> from your phone, or drastically reducing your time on Facebook, can lower your cortisol levels (that\u2019s the hormone associated with stress). Increased cortisol can lower your immune system, encourage obesity, and impair memory. Excessive social media use has been linked with <\/span>anxiety and depression<\/span><\/a>. That\u2019s a lot to put up with just to see what your cousin had for lunch. <\/span><\/p>\n

Take a 24-hour break from all the noise and pressure from social media. If your hands are still twitching to use your phone, replace Insta with <\/span>an app designed to help you reduce stress and anxiety<\/span><\/a>. Some apps walk you through mindfulness or meditation. Others help you breathe, or they play soothing sounds. <\/span><\/p>\n

Take Care of Your Body<\/span><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s definitely a connection between mind and body \u2014 just ask anyone who has experienced being hangry. When you\u2019re stressed, taking care of your body can absolutely help get you back to balanced. If you\u2019re working under a deadline, you might be tempted to forgo eating healthy for something quick, like vending machine food. Sugar bursts and crashes can exacerbate stress. Take some time to eat food that will give you energy without burning out quickly, like protein. <\/span><\/p>\n

Physical activity can help you work through feelings of stress. It\u2019s as simple as taking a quick walk to clear your head. A walk can help you calm down, catch your breath, and head back into a stressful job or project with a much clearer head. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep is a powerful tool to relax and unwind. <\/span>Follow practices that lead to a good night\u2019s rest<\/span><\/a>: <\/span><\/p>\n