5 Healthy Habits To Manage Stress

Modern life has become comparatively easier to previous eras, helped primarily by the continuous advancement of technology. That being said, life remains stressful in more ways than one. Whether it’s accumulating debt or workplace drama, people deal with a myriad of stressors on a daily basis. Left unchecked, stress can manifest itself in the form of deteriorating health and poor work performance. To help you better manage stress, here are five healthy habits to adopt:

Identify Your Stressor/s

Managing stress is impossible without first knowing the root cause of stress. It could be your upstairs neighbors’ thumping footsteps or the complicated relationship you have with a parent. Identifying your stressor/s will help you avoid them in the future. Albeit, some causes of stress are better off addressed head-on rather than avoided. For instance, if you do have a complicated relationship with your parents, it’s best to communicate with them so that a resolution can be reached rather than avoid their phone calls or visits.

Take Care of Yourself

Eating well and exercising regularly cannot be overstated when it comes to stress management and self-improvement. Your mind and body are intertwined, meaning weakness on one side affects the other. If you live a physically unhealthy life, the likelihood of stress is higher than if you live a healthy and balanced one. Some of the best foods for stress management include sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, matcha powder, kimchi, and artichokes. In terms of exercise, you should avoid overexerting yourself as this could also lead to stress. Figure out your body’s limits and then proceed to increase repetition or intensity gradually.

Avoid Bad Habits

This one is quite simple – avoid smoking and drinking. While most people believe that they can cure sadness and depression by partaking in either or both vices, these habits actually render the opposite effect. If you do need something to control your bouts of daily stress, use a vape pen or electronic cigarette instead. Vaping with ccell vape cartridges can help lower your stress without damaging the lungs and other body organs. Take note that vaping is only a short-term solution for any negative emotions that you are experiencing. Seeking advice from a medical professional is still a better long-term alternative to address the issue.

Cultivate a Positive Mindset

Expressing gratitude is one of the ways you can cultivate a positive mindset. With the busy lives that people live these days, it’s easy to forget about the things that you are lucky to have. People have the tendency to focus on what’s not going their way. Being grateful for great sunny weather or a roof under your head is a good morning habit that can lift the spirits up and spark positive energy. Another way to develop a positive mindset is to improve your self-talk messages. It might not seem like a big deal, but how you talk to yourself can have a huge impact on how you think about things. If you constantly tell yourself negative things, such as “I don’t have the skills for this” or “this is a lost cause”, you’ll end up stressing yourself. Replace it with positive messages, such as “I’ll get this done by the end of the day”.

Play Video Games

There is substantial data linking the connection between video games and stress reduction. In a study by the Behavioral Science Institute in the Netherlands, players who became upset while playing the game, Starcraft II, were able to find effective coping mechanisms to manage the stress they were experiencing at the time. Another study shows that certain games not only provide an outlet for stress, but it can also boost cognitive function. Lastly, through cooperative gameplay, gamers are also able to lower stress through socialization. While video games are indeed a fun escape after a stressful day at work or school, keep in mind that it can also trigger stress responses and even aggressive behavioral tendencies. Thus, it’s best to avoid games that incite negative emotions.

Keep in mind that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all option for effective stress management. What works for a family or friend might not work for you. Make the effort to continuously look for activities or things that can reduce your stress and, at the same time, replace it with positive emotions.