How to Reduce Stress

INTRODUCTION

Stress can be defined as our body’s response to a challenge or demand that we come across in life. When we are stressed, the main stress hormone of our body called cortisol is released. It is nature’s built-in alarm system that works with certain parts of our brain. Most of us, in fact, the majority of the population experiences stress which gets triggered by a range of events. People who have gone through a traumatic experience may suffer from Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These events include daily hassles to major changes that occur in life like a divorce or job loss. The question is how to reduce stress?

11 WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

1. SELF-CARE: The first way of how to reduce stress is Self-Care. It lays the foundation of a healthy mind. It includes a balanced diet, adequate amount of sleep, water intake, daily yoga and exercise, money management, etc. It regulates the levels of cortisol and helps us heal various mental health issues that occur due to stress such as PTSD.
2. SET BOUNDARIES: This is the second way of how to reduce stress. Creating firm boundaries and rules for ourselves related to people or relationships can lay a solid stress-reducing foundation.
3. SET REALISTIC GOALS: The third way of how to reduce stress is to set realistic goals. If we set unrealistic goals, it increases our expectations from ourselves which in turn shoots up our stress levels. We need to understand that we cannot be 100% successful at everything all at once. 

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4. FIND CAUSE OF STRESS: It is often said that prevention is often better than cure. Finding out the sources of stress in our lives like exams, unsuitable living conditions, deadlines, etc., and working to limit their impact helps to keep low-stress levels
5. ACCEPTANCE: Sometimes we take the stress of things on which we don’t have any control. We can hardly do anything about it and therefore accept that and work on things that we can control. With acceptance, we can avoid PTSD and other such mental disorders that occur due to stress.
6. BALANCE YOUR TIME: Balancing our time is a process of reflecting and adjusting constantly. We must plan our time for the upcoming week by using a diary or a planner as it reduces our stress well ahead of time. This is the sixth way of how to reduce stress.
7. CONNECT WITH PEOPLE: Poor mental health becomes worse in isolation. Connecting with people by messaging, video call, or by going out for lunch or holiday and various other activities energizes an individual and removes excessive stress.
8. POWER OF TOUCH: Touch is very powerful as it can both increase and decrease stress. If we spend time with animals or hug someone we’re close to, we feel supported and oxytocin hormone is released in our body that acts as a stress-reliever.
9. STEP OUTSIDE: The ninth way of how to reduce stress is to step outside. We need to take some fresh air by going out or by opening windows and stay close to nature by going to a park or by having plants inside etc. Connecting with nature by art, photography, bark rubbings, etc., can bring a sense of calm in you.

10. PRACTICE RELAXATION TECHNIQUES: Taking the time to relax every day by using various techniques such as mantra meditation, deep breathing, mindfulness meditation, aromatherapy or massage, etc., can help us manage stress by maintaining our cortisol levels.
11. HAVE FUN: Having a childlike attitude in life keeps us miles away from stress. We need to be silly, laugh, play, explore and more importantly learn to ‘let go’ to maintain our mental health. We shouldn’t take everything too seriously.

CONCLUSION

Stress enables us to respond to threats quickly. But, exposure to stress for a long period of time leads to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. It can also lead to various physical health problems. A large number of research studies suggest that high-stress levels interfere with your body’s ability to deal with physical illness. Stress leads to an elevated heart rate and blood pressure, negative thoughts, and feelings like fear and anger. No one can avoid stress completely but we can work to bring it down using the above-mentioned ways of how to reduce stress.