Stress is one of those things that is often misunderstood in the sense that when we think of "stress" most of us associate stress with something bad. There are many "stressful" things that could objectively be considered "good" (e.g., getting married, having a baby, getting a promotion, being a starter, etc.). The reality is that it is not so much the events of our lives that cause us discomfort, but the ways in which we deal with stressful life events that matters most. Our ability to cope with stress is directly related to life satisfaction and wellbeing.
Although there are a multitude of things that can be done to cope with stress, here are 3 relatively "easy" things you can do today to help lower your experience of feeling stressed.
- Deep Breathing. This is an easy, take-with-you-wherever-you-go skill. Get as comfortable as you can either lying down or sitting upright in your chair. As you inhale through your nose, be sure that you are not raising your shoulders (an indicator of shallow breathing) and be sure your are inhaling slowly (rapid breathing can lead to hyperventilation/light headedness). Exhale slowly through your mouth. Do this with your eyes closed or open while staring at something neutral or calming. Some people notice a feeling of relaxation after 3-5 deep breathes, others may need to engage in deep breathing for 3-5 minutes. Either way, it does not take long. Like any other skill, this takes practice. If you are not already used to or comfortable with deep breathing, give yourself some time and be sure to try it regularly.
- Do Your Hobby. Try to identify a hobby that you can "pick up" and "put down" relatively easily (e.g., reading a book, listening to/playing music, drawing, etc.). This type of hobby means that you can devote as much time or as little time to it as you can without feeling like most of the "hobby time" is spent "getting ready" or "putting it away". Carve out a regular time during each day or several days of the week devoted to your hobby. We schedule everything else in our lives and those things that do not get scheduled often get forgotten...and doing things we enjoy for the sake of enjoyment often get forgotten. If feasible - enlist a friend in a "hobby pact" (i.e., we promise each other we will do something we enjoy just because we enjoy it!), or as a partner (e.g., play music together).
- Pet your pet. If you have a pet in you life, be sure to give it the attention YOU deserve! The acting of playing with or petting an animal has been demonstrated to improve mood and reduce physiological responses to stress. I often feel the most relaxed an at peace with my cat on my lap, my petting her, and feeling the rumble of her purr...give yourself some fur therapy!
Hope that helps some. If there are other "easy" stress busters that you use, please post them in the comments section!
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