How to Take Care of Yourself in Stressful Times

According to the American Psychological Association (APA) Nearly 8 in 10 adults say the coronavirus pandemic is a significant source of stress in their life. And, nearly 7 in 10 adults say they have experienced increased stress over the course of the pandemic.

While we can’t always change the source of our stress, and while many of us will deal with it differently, there are some ways we can learn to manage it. Its long-term effects can be detrimental to our health and can lead to anxiety and depression. Learning to cope with our stress and finding healthy ways to deal with these situations can go a long way in living a healthy and positive life.

Where should you begin?

Sometimes the stress in our lives is not something we have any power to change, it is during these times that Federal Occupational Health recommends you change your approach to situations. Try to:

Recognize when you don’t have control, and let it go.
Avoid getting anxious about situations that you cannot change.
Take control of your reactions and focus your mind on something that makes you feel calm and in control.
Develop a vision for healthy living, wellness, and personal growth, and set realistic goals to help you realize your vision.

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness refers to meditation practices or exercises that require you to notice feelings and thoughts as they come and go, without judgment. Getting caught up in the fast pace of everyday life is something that affects us all. But if we forget to take time out of our busy schedules and invest in ourselves, our stress and anxiety levels tend to increase. Mindfulness is the conscious effort to focus solely on the present moment; to try and not worry about what’s happened in the past, or what might happen in the future. Taking time for yourself in the present moment has been shown to greatly reduce stress levels and increase a sense of calm.

Discover mindfulness meditations, talks and music tracks to support you in times of stress.

Try meditation

A regular meditation practice has been shown to lower stress hormones and decrease inflammation in the body. It can be as simple as taking a few moments out of your day to breathe and focus on the present moment.

Prolonged or chronic stress can show up in the form of health problems, such as anxiety, inflammation, autoimmune and heart diseases, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, migraine, and memory loss — to only name a few. Guided meditations can help to counter these effects by lowering stress hormones and decreasing inflammation in the body.

Don’t ignore anxiety

Stress and anxiety often come hand in hand. Anxiety is our body’s way of preparing for a ‘fight or flight’ response. It is usually triggered by perceived future events, many which do not eventuate. Regular and daily meditation for anxiety relief helps affected people to focus on staying in the present moment and seeing a situation for what it is.

Discover 7 Daily Habits To Ease An Anxious Mind And Be Happier.

Tips for coping with your stress

Take care of yourself

Eat healthy, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, give yourself a break if you feel stressed. Around one in three people suffer from mild insomnia. If you wake consistently at night or suffer from restless sleep patterns, sleep meditations, talks, and music tracks will help calm the mind and relax the body in preparation for sleep.

Don’t stay silent

Discuss your problems with a parent, friend or another trusted source. Having the opportunity to laugh and chat with others in social situations serves to temporarily distract us from our worries by turning our focus outwards instead of inwards. And being able to talk through problems and share our worries with others decreases our stress levels. As the saying goes, a worry shared is a worry halved, and less worry equals less stress.

Know when to ask for help

Recognize when you need more help. It’s important to recognise when your stress levels are affecting your day to day life. Know when to talk to a psychologist, social worker or counselor if things continue and you feel unable to manage your stress levels alone.

Discover more: Talks for Managing Stress