How To Release and Manage Stress

Stress is a physical and mental response to your body being overworked. Through this response the mind and the body start to irrationally request demands from you that can threat your wellbeing. In the physical sense it can increase your heart rate and create tension within the body. Mentally, it can make you very anxious,  highly emotional and question everything you do. This is the point where you need to take a step back and take time out for yourself and breathe. However, before you get to this stage, you need to recognise the things that trigger you inside. Is it taking too much on? or is it that everything is stored in your head and you need to find a way to get it on paper.

Earlier this month, I took on a lot of work and found myself reaching the peak point of where I became severely stressed. It was honestly the worst week of my life, I knew this wasn’t me and I felt like I was spiralling into a deep dark hole.  Despite this all being within me, I needed to find a release and my release was talking it out with someone who I trust. This was a crucial point as they made me aware I was taking on too much; in that moment I realised the unhealthy amount of work I have put myself through was damaging myself. After the talk, I felt a lot calmer and my thoughts were more rational and I knew what I needed to do. It was to take one task at a time and learn to say no.  I started to do things that would release the feelings of being stress for example, writing 2/3 things I needed to do that day and continue it through the week. I baked lovely cupcakes and binged on them :)

When we are caught up we tend to forget how to tackle the stress. Below I have a few suggestions that can help when recognising the feeling of stress and ways to combat it.

• Talking to friends or a mentor 
• Doing something you enjoy e.g.. baking a cake
• Writing down your thoughts( getting it on paper takes it from it being all in your head to logically seeing the things you need to complete on paper)
• Going sleep ( although it is going to be there when you wake up, sometimes just not thinking about it for an hour can help)
• Start small- get two things done started with the biggest task and then work your way down over a span of X amount of days
• Say no( learn to say no)
• Breathe
• Meditation ( there are great apps and videos on youtube on meditation)
• Keep hydrated
• Eat
• Gratitude 

What are your own ways of managing stress, I would love to know!

Stay Grounded X