Are You Engaging in Consistent Stress Relief?

Of all of your self-care efforts, some people reading this guide will need consistent stress relief more than anything else. But the unfortunate truth is, most people will only engage in occasional stress relief, if ever at all.

The problem with stress is that it often snowballs into a chronic situation. It becomes something you can’t escape, no matter how bad you want to. So, you end up being beaten down on a regular basis, both mentally and physically due to the strain.

To combat chronic stress, you have to have consistent stress relief. Consistency is the antidote to an ongoing barrage of chaos in your world, whether it’s coming from the workplace, personal relationships, health or elsewhere.

Define Your Stress Levels

The first thing you need to do is gauge how bad the stress is. The stress relief routine you create depends on how toxic your stress levels have become. They might be on the low end, with life going pretty smoothly, in which case you can lighten up on your stress relief routine.

But it might be more severe. Your stress load could be moderate or extreme, depending on everything going on in your life. A moderate amount of stress could be a hectic morning routine, dealing with traffic jams, and handling monthly finances.

An extreme amount of stress would be something more daunting. Maybe you’re in the middle of a life crisis, such as a serious health issue or a divorce and custody battle. Or perhaps you’re in danger of losing (or have already lost) your job.

It’s important that you not magnify a stress factor and turn it into something it’s not. Sometimes we have to admit it if we tend to blow things out of proportion. But the opposite can also be true.

You might be the kind of person who buries what’s really going on because you don’t want to face it. This is just as detrimental to your world as the other end of the spectrum, so be honest about what seems out of your control and what’s easily remedied.

Sometimes a simple habit of tweaking your mindset and outlook on things, like a regular traffic jam, can be all you need to lighten the load of your stress. But other aspects of your life, like a turbulent divorce, could require ongoing self-care and nurturing.

Once you know the truth about just how bad it is, and you’ve spotted signs that your mind and body are suffering, you’ll be ready to carve out some time to take care of your own needs.

Pinpoint the Causes of Your Stress

In order to build a sustainable stress relief campaign that nurtures you, you have to understand the source of your stress. You’ll want to build a strategy that combats whatever is causing you turmoil in life.

It will also help you devise a plan that’s perfectly timed to alleviate stress, which we’ll talk about more in depth momentarily. But for now, think specifically about what it is causing the most stress in your life, down to the tiniest details.

For example, you might think that your job is a source of stress. But what is it about the job that’s wreaking havoc on your mind and body? Here are some possible reasons why a job might stress you out:

·         You have an overbearing boss

·         Your workload is too much for you to handle

·         The hours are debilitating

·         Your coworkers are frustrating

·         Your job is too physically demanding

·         You’re not being paid enough for the work that you do.

Take the reasons and drill down even further. What is it about an overbearing boss that upsets you? Does he micromanage you? Is he rude and callous or demeaning in front of other people?

Knowing what’s causing the stress can help you devise a relief routine that works best for you. For example, you may need to have a talk with your boss and set some respectful boundaries with him or her.

If you feel like you’re being paid too little for too much work, then you might need to create a plan to level up, ask for a raise, make a lateral move within the company or even seek employment elsewhere.

Sometimes, you simply need to practice a way to handle whatever is happening in the moment. For example, the next time your boss says something demeaning, you might want to engage in some deep breathing exercises or steal away for a few minutes to let your internal rage subside.

Having a plan prepared ahead of time can help keep the situations from festering the rest of the day and bubbling over into your personal life at night.

Create a Morning Stress Relief Routine

Sometimes you’ll want to come up with an all day, situation by situation plan for stress relief. If your life is so hectic that anything could happen at any given moment, and you need to know how to unwind immediately, then that’s a strategy you should come up with.

That could include things like taking a brief walk to release endorphins, calling a loved one or friend to lift your spirits, or engaging in deep breathing or meditative exercises to calm down.

But you may be able to pinpoint certain times of the day that are most stressful. If mornings are your worst enemy, set your alarm about 10-15 minutes earlier so that you’re not rushed.

Do things to help you get ready the night before, such as packing lunches and gathering work and school materials to be easily grabbed on the way out the door. Have your outfit ready so that you can get up and go with ease.

Manage a Midday Stress Relief Strategy

If the middle of the day is toxic for you, find ways to alleviate stress son the go. If you’re in a workplace like a corporate office, you might be able to ditch work for a lunch break and get out of the environment for an hour or so.

Even taking a walk through the office can help break the monotony and stress of your routine. There are quiet, self-soothing ways you can alleviate stress. Aside from the breathing exercises, you can also repeat some positive affirmations in your mind that help fortify you against the stresses of work.

You might also want to quickly journal your feelings so that you don’t carry it around all day. If you can’t talk to anyone about it, journaling is a good outlet for your emotional frustration.

Indulge in a Relaxing Nighttime Stress Soothing Regimen

Sometimes you need to end your day on a positive note. When you get home, you want to relax and unwind, but sometimes, home life can be just as stressful as your work life, depending on your situation.

You might have the urge to immediately begin yelling at everyone to do chores, as you try to cook dinner and clean house. But give yourself a few moments of enjoyment before the chaos begins. Enjoy a funny show. Laugh with your loved ones.

Take a nice bath and unwind. And before your head hits the pillow each night, engage in some positive self-talk about what you’re grateful for and what goals you will achieve the next day.