Eye-Opening Ways to Manage Stress

Have you stopped to think that possibly your life has become stressful? Is it possible that you have created or allowed your life to be stressful? Are there ways that you can manage stress? Sure there are. I have listed just a few of them.

stress reduction

I personally know of a few ways to manage stress. I have tried them and stress management does work.

1. Deep Breathing

Have you every tried deep breathing? Deep breathing can do wonders for you. Try taking in a deep breath and slowly inhale. Possibly do several of the deep breathing. It will help you to refocus also. Now you do not want to do these while driving your car, but rather while sitting quietly. Take time out throughout your day for this. This helps to relax those muscles especially if you are very tense.
In Fact, according to breakingmuscle.com the deep breathing affects the vagus nerve by helping you go into a relaxed state. The benefits are numerous which include higher functioning immune system, lowering of blood pressure, helps the brain to emit new cells, raises endorphins which are those positive feeling in the body, reduce the sensation of pain, and much more.   

Ecclesiates 3:1 To everything there is a time and season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven

2. Device Break

This device break includes your computer, Ipad, tablet, ipod, or cellphone. If you are using any of these devices for hours at a time, this can become quite stressful without you realizing it at the time. Now if you are required to be at your computer while working that is different, but you still can take mini- breaks by just standing up and stretching. I recall one of my former jobs required myself and co-workers to call about 1700 hundred accounts initially within 15 days. Sometimes our neck and shoulder pain would be so great, we would take turns massaging each others shoulders. At that time, we did not have headsets, which I believe are quite helpful with allowing you to be hands free.

Have you ever left home and forgot your cellphone? Did you feel naked or weird because you did not have it? That is something to think about. Your mind and your body need breaks from all of this. Although the body may have been sometimes referred to as a “Lean, green machine,” our bodies are wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. If we are constantly doing and not taking time to relax or meditate we can wreak havoc on our bodies. On your weekends or your days off are you glued to your devices playing games? That may be fun in moderation, but if done constantly can be a great source of stress; Remember everything in moderation.

3. Social Media

Are you constantly on Social Media. Perhaps there is the fear of missing something important or you just have the need to share what you ate today. Remember there is a season for everything.

4. To-Do List

Do You Have a To-Do List? Well that is great, but if you have so many things on your list that you are never able to complete it, this can be stressful. Be sure to make your To-Do List realistic. You do not always want to be doing and never seeming to accomplish the things you are endeavoring to do.

5.  Just Say No

Are you a pleaser? Are you afraid to say no, because you may hurt someone's feeling? Sometimes it is best to say no. Sometimes you need to assess the situation and discover what is best for you. If you have a difficult time saying no, just tell the person you need to think about it and will get back with them. Start practicing saying no, if this concept feels foreign to you. You can say no in a nice way without being rude. For example, you might say, “Thanks for asking me, but I am sorry I have another commitment.”   

6.  Discontentment

Are you always comparing yourself to someone else? Possibly things are not happening for you as fast as you think they should. I recall a young lady that had made every attempt to do the right things. She did not give her parents any problems, she was an honor student, she went to college and got married. I remember her making the statement, “I have been married 2 weeks and I still am not pregnant.” This is not funny, but I laughed to myself. She wanted children and she wanted them right now. Sometimes rather than enjoying the journey, we become obsessed because we feel we are not getting there soon enough. Over time that can become quite stressful. Again I say, everything in moderation. Change the way that you think.

Photo Caption: commons.wikimedia.org, LaurMG, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Source:

The Vagus Nerve: An Unexpected Key to Better Performance, DeLora Frederickson, Coach

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