Stress seems to be an ever-present companion in our current lives – people might be just tad more short-tempered than usual. It might be a good time to consider taking some steps to alleviate it.
The root of the distress we are feeling is our thoughts – we might feel like helpless twigs being rushed along by world events, leaders we don’t trust, social unrest and a mysterious pandemic. We tell ourselves terrifying stories, and all we want to do is hide under the covers. I get it, I really do.
A big tip on reducing stress in these times would be to reduce the amount of time we spend watching the news. While it’s important to know what is going on in the world, we don’t need to be deluged with it all day. Turn it off and give your mind something more positive to work with – talk with family and friends, watch a silly kitten video. You are not as helpless as some would have you believe – there are things you can do every day to make the world a better place. Find positive stories about people who are doing just that, and share them on your feed.
Next is to consider what you are putting in your body. Alcohol consumption has gone up quite alarmingly in these troubled times, and if you are contributing to that statistic, you might want to give it some sober second thought. It may feel good to numb the stressful feelings in the moment, but in the end, the solution may be worse than the problem. I hate to be a killjoy, but if you are waking up feeling worse than you felt the night before, it might be time to cut back a bit. Try the following tip instead.
My all-time favourite stress buster is exercise. Just get your shoes on and go for a quick walk around the block. If you can’t do that, there are a million videos online at the moment, encouraging you to do anything from yoga to shadow boxing. As long as you can find some way to move your body and get your heartrate up, even a little bit, you will find benefit. If you can get outside, breathe some fresh air and get up close with a tree or two, even better. The Japanese call it nature-bathing, and it is sure to help you feel better.
What are your favourite stress-busters? I’d love to know!