Stress Awareness Month - How to manage stress in your life

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness about the issues stress can cause and to help those suffering better manage their stress.

Whilst small amounts of stress can be normal in certain situations and can be a trigger to work hard or complete a task with more energy, prolonged stress can have a negative impact on your health. Too much stress can lead to issues such as headaches, elevated blood pressure, poor sleep and depression. For this reason, it’s important to properly manage it and take action to look after your mind.

Here are five ways you can properly manage stress and get on the right track to mental wellness.

Get plenty of sleep
Sleep is one of the most important things you can do to manage your stress. A lack of regular sleep can make you sluggish, impatient and cause a spike in cortisol levels, which contribute towards emotions such as anger and sadness. Doctors advise that a healthy adult should be getting 7-9 hours sleep per night. Regular, good quality sleep can calm and restore the body, regulate mood and improve concentration levels.

Get regular exercise
Getting your body moving regularly can help to release excess energy and aid you in properly managing stress levels. Exercising also releases endorphins which improve your mood and regulate your emotions. The exercise you do can vary from a brisk walk all the way to a fast-paced weight circuit, so long as you get the blood flowing!

Load up on nutritional food
Eating a well-balanced meal can be another brilliant way to manage and decrease stress. Whilst a healthy diet will make you feel generally better in yourself, studies have shown that foods such as fruit, vegetables and healthy starches can regulate your mood and prevent spikes in chemicals in the body that contribute towards stress.

Take time for yourself
Sometimes we can take on too much work without consideration for our needs. Modern life can be incredibly busy and fast-paced. By having a hobby or outlet, you can take time away from the more stressful parts of life and release some pent-up emotions and feelings. Even just a quiet walk in the park after work or reading a book on an evening can help calm you down and regulate your mood.

Talk!
Just as much as too much junk food and a lack of sleep can contribute towards feeling stressed, stress can also be caused by bottling up emotions or not communicating your needs. Talking to a friend or family member about what you’re feeling can help you to get a load off your chest and feel better. Remember that professional help is also available and someone is always there to listen to you.
 
If you’d like some more resources on how to manage stress, you can do so by clicking here.