Healthy Ways to Deal With Stress 

And that’s normal—you’re normal. 

It seems like the world is built around having a few stressors here and there, and it’s not abnormal to feel stress on a daily basis. After all, as humans, we have to function and live life; and for the majority of us, that, unfortunately, will include stress.

If you don’t have a healthy way to deal with stress, it can, and will, lead to complications. This is why it’s so important that you have healthy coping mechanisms and learn to take time-outs to give yourself a break. 

Sure, external factors that stress you out may never go away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find more effective, healthier ways to help you manage your stress better and ideally feel less stressed.

In this article, we’ll highlight some of the best healthy ways to deal with stress, no matter how stressed you are. 

Exercise—seriously

Stress can be a sign that you should really move that body of yours.

You might be sick and tired of hearing people say that you should exercise, but there’s a reason why it’s one of the most common things people suggest because it’s effective!

Not only does working out release necessary endorphins that are good for your mood, but it also increases your blood flow, flushing out all the stress hormones. It may be (okay, it will be) a challenge starting your routine, but there’s no denying that once you do start, you won’t want to stop.

You don’t have to exercise early in the morning, and exercise doesn’t only mean that you should lift dumbbells and do a million squats every day. You could go for a 5-minute walk or simply go up and down the stairs a few times. 

The important thing is to do activities and exercises that you enjoy and get your heart rate up.

Create a Supportive Environment

Connect with people who are nothing but supportive of you; cut-off those who bring unnecessary toxicity and stress. 

It’s highly important that when you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, you have the opportunity to talk to your friends, colleagues, or family who will understand and validate how you feel. 

Talking to someone about your stressors is a good outlet, and it’s something that’s absolutely necessary for us human beings. 

Perhaps you could also enjoy a few de-stressing activities with these people, like watching a movie or catching up over a meal. Just remember that your environment also has an effect on how you manage your stress.

Give Yourself Breaks

Everybody has different sources of stress. Some people get it from their work, some from home, and for some even from their peers. 

Regardless of where you get it from, you need to maintain a safe space away from these stressors, where it’s just you and the things you’re comfortable with.

Set a time of the day away from these “stress triggers,” taking the time to do anything you want.

Sometimes, this can be as simple as enjoying your cup of coffee in the morning in a peaceful space without any outside distractions.  Or take an extra moment or two in the shower to quiet your mind and relax...time to just take care of yourself.

What’s important is that you have a few moments and some space for yourself to recuperate and be away from what stresses you out.

Practice Being Mindful

Mindfulness is a practice that people do to become aware of their moment-by-moment feelings, physical sensations, and thoughts. It’s a practice people do to stay in the present, not in the past, not in the future, to stay in the moment.

When you’re mindful, you are able to identify what are the main causes of your stress. Once you have identified them, you now have the capability to evaluate these stressors as well as how you can conquer them. 

Stressed about that pending backlog? Write down how you can finish it. Stressed about an argument at home? Find a way to remedy the situation. 

Mindfulness not just helps you stay in the present but also helps you have more control over your current situation. You’re not letting stress take over your body; instead, you’re taking it over!

Yoga and meditation are the two main go-to activities to practice mindfulness. 

Get Enough Sleep

Stress can cause people not to be able to sleep.  Lack of sleep can cause people stress.  It can be a vicious, tiring cycle.

Lack of sleep is one of the major reasons why potentially millions of people are so grumpy and moody in the morning. Sleep is becoming such a valuable asset these days. Even if one gets 7 hours of sleep, it’s still probably not going to be enough for a smooth, stress-free day ahead.   

To try to get more sleep, do some breathing exercises. These breathing exercises can help calm you down and prepare your body for a good night’s rest. 

If you’re already at the point where you’re too stressed and have trouble falling asleep, there are a number of options available.  Natural sleep aids, tips, and helpful tricks to develop good sleeping habits, white noise, and exercise can all potentially help you get a better night’s sleep.  Natural home remedies such as hot chamomile tea, warm milk, or hot chocolate may also help.  Or it may be time to give your doctor a call to see what options may be available to you medically.