Stress Management

 It looks like everyone is being burdened with something on their minds. Have you ever felt like the 24 hours in the day are not enough? With the pressure that keeps growing day by day. If yes, then that is stress gradually creeping into your life. 

What Is Stress?

Stress is a state where the brain and body are normally under tension and pressure due to impending difficult situations. Being stressed is your body trying to prompt you to urgently address the situation at hand. Every human being experiences a certain level of stress; however, how we manage the stress is what makes the difference. Some people can perfectly manage and balance stressful situations, while others are not able to do so. How we respond to stress defines our general well-being. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/stress

Importance Of Stress Management

It is very important to be able to manage stress. Below are some reasons why it's important to manage stress:

1. Managing stress helps you get a good night's sleep.

2. You tend to conserve a lot of energy when you're able to manage stressful situations.

3. Also, managing stress helps you keep your weight in check.

4. Managing stress also helps prevent unnecessary mood swings.

Types of Stress  

   - Acute Stress: Short-term stress triggered by immediate events. 

   - Chronic Stress: Long-term stress resulting from ongoing issues. 

 Causes of Stress

Basically, there are two major causes of stress listed as follows:  

   - External: workload, financial issues, relationship conflicts. 

   - Internal: Negative self-talk, unrealistic expectations, perfectionism. 

Effects of Stress  

The effects of stress affect the physical, emotional, and behavioral patterns of the one who is stressed. They affect these sectors as follows:

   - Physical: Headaches, fatigue, weakened immune system. 

   - Emotional: Anxiety, irritability, depression. 

   - Behavioral: Procrastination, overeating, substance abuse. 

Stress, though a bad habit, also has its merits. A little bit of stress helps us and motivates us to go about our daily activities; however, being in excess is where the problem is, hence the importance of managing it.

Stress Management

It is very important to manage your stress levels, and below are some ways you can do that:

 Keeping a daily routine 

This would help you make effective use of your time during the day and also allow you to cover and complete a lot of tasks. Planning and putting your day in order will go a long way to help reduce your stress levels. Note: Planning is very important if you want to make good use of your time.

 Get enough sleep

Sleep, I would say, is the best remedy for stress. Sleep allows your body to make up for the energy that was lost during the day. So, picture this: say your body needs 80 percent of your energy to help you carry out your daily activities, and this can only be gained through 8 hours of sleep, but then you only allow your body to get just 2 hours of sleep. This would be you putting a lot of pressure on your body, and your body trying to react and control it would end up getting you stressed.

Below are some sleep hygiene routines as well.

1. Limit the use of electronic devices

2. Avoid foods that contain caffeine before bedtime.

Exercise a lot

Regular exercise and workouts also help reduce stress. This can be as basic as writing, and if possible, you add some interesting routines.

Seek professional help 

Anytime you feel stressed or start having burnout, try your best to seek expert advice to help calm you down.

Avoid isolation

Try to come out and talk to trusted people. Keep in touch with family and friends, and try sharing your troubles and concerns with them as well.

 Benefits of Effective Stress Management  

1. Improved physical health (e.g., better immunity, lower risk of chronic diseases). 

2. Enhanced mental clarity and emotional stability. 

3. Stronger relationships and increased productivity. 

4. Overall sense of happiness and fulfillment. 

It is very important to manage stress. Try getting enough sleep, make sure to plan your day before you step out of your house, if possible, try to exercise, and also try talking about your concerns with trusted people. Do these, and you will have no problem with stress.