How to Lower Your Stress Levels

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A reported 70% of Americans experience stress and anxiety on a daily basis, which could considerably impact their quality of life. The problem might be due to a demanding career, a busy home life or personal problems, which could eat away at their physical and mental health.

If you are struggling with tense muscles, a racing mind and poor emotional wellbeing, you must take the steps to care for your mind and body. Find out how to lower your stress levels.

Identify the Source of Your Stress

To effectively manage your stress, you must identify its source. By doing so, you can avoid triggers or develop a strategy to decrease your levels. For example, your stress could be caused by:

• A lack of leisure or relaxation time
• A reliance on alcohol, cigarettes or caffeine
• Poor time management
• Specific people
• A workaholic attitude
• A lack of self-care

By identifying the factors causing your stress, you could potentially reduce or eliminate them from your life. For instance, if you suspect your high stress levels are caused by a lack of relaxation time, it would be wise to cut back on your obligations and responsibilities, so you can enjoy a soak in a hot bubble bath, time with your loved ones, or an early night’s sleep.

Develop Healthier Responses

Many people are guilty of making poor decisions when attempting to combat stress. For example, they might turn to fast food or alcohol to alleviate tension in their body. However, fatty foods and alcohol can both be a depressant, so they can potentially increase your stress levels.

It is, therefore, imperative to develop healthier responses to stress, such as exercising, reading a novel, playing a fun game or going to a concert with your loved ones. Use your spare time to embark on activities that bring you pleasure and that will not exacerbate your low mood.

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Relax and Unwind Your Muscles

Constant stress can cause a busy professional to burnout, which could lead to a poor performance at work and more than a few sick days. For this reason, you must take the time to relax and unwind your muscles when at or away from your desk.

For example, you could perform five-minute yoga exercises when sitting at a computer, or you can enjoy a hot bubble bath after a busy day at the office. These helpful tactics could help you to feel both relaxed and focused.

Watch Your Favorite Sport

If you want to enjoy some escapism from your rising stress levels, you should immerse yourself in your favorite sport. The pastime can serve as a healthy outlet for fans, as it can distract their mind from their worries for a few hours. Plus, it can be a fun way to spend quality time with your loved ones, as you can enjoy a passionate debate about who will win the Stanley Cup, or will become the next Super Bowl winner. So, it beats talking about work or personal issues with your nearest and dearest.

Talk to Your Boss About Your Workload

If your growing task list is contributing to your stress levels, you should consider having an open and honest conversation with your boss about your demanding workload. Explain to your employer that while you are happy to tackle tough jobs, your to-do list is spiraling out of control and leading to your poor mental health.

As a result, they might be happy to decrease your task list, or could help you to improve your time management skills. It might also help to clarify what is expected of you each working day and you also could embark an employer-sponsored wellness program, if available. One conversation could potentially improve your working life and significantly reduce rising workplace stress.

So, if you want to eliminate stress and tension in your body each day, the above top tips could transform your quality of life.