International Stress Awareness Day
Now that Halloween is officially over, the Holiday season has started to ramp up with Thanksgiving quickly approaching and Christmas soon after. Apart from the turkeys, countless rolls of wrapping paper and New Year’s Eve celebrations, another thing also tends to come up this time of year is stress. From worrying about that turkey that you just burnt, to not finding the perfect gifts for your friends and family, to even having to deal with the weather and longer commutes, stress is everywhere. But there’s good news! Just being aware of your stress is a step in the right direction thanks to International Stress Awareness Day.
We all know the downsides of stress – the anxiousness, loss of appetite or over eating, fatigue, depression and more. But did you know that there are a ton of ways to cope with your stress, even in the middle of winter?
Learn how you can beat your stress and enjoy your holidays as best as you can with these tips:
Exercise – Having good physical health can help you fight off some of the worst downsides of stress such as a high blood pressure level.
Meditate – Clear your mind and mentally prepare yourself for the challenges ahead of you. Morning mediations specifically can also give you an energy boost and help you be more positive!
Take a break – Long hours in the office can start to add up, especially at the end of the year. Be sure to take some time for yourself to decompress. Take a walk during your lunch or pick up your favorite book and read when you have some time.
Sleep – We can go on and on about the benefits of a good, full night’s sleep. However, we know that it can be difficult to get your full 7-9 hours with the daily challenges of life and work. The best trick to fighting this? Try setting a schedule. Getting yourself into a routine can help you be more motivated to finish up your nightly tasks at a reasonable time so you can get your Z’s.
Spend time with your pet – Having a pet has been known to bring many health benefits including reducing your stress and improving your mood. It can even give you purpose, helps keep you active, and provides companionship – all qualities that can help reduce anxiety and stress.
Don’t be afraid to say ‘not right now’ – Stress affects most of us on any given day of the week. The best way to fight this is to know your limits. Don’t be afraid to let your coworkers know that you have too many deadlines to take care of and that small requests may need to wait. Doing this can help you catch up on your more important (and thus more stressful) tasks first and then get to the essential tasks when able.
If all else fails, it is absolutely okay to ask for help – Sometimes, stress is just too much for household remedies and a positive mindset to get through. When this happens, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Chronic, uncontrolled stress can lead to a variety of potentially serious health problems, including depression and even physical pain. Check with your employer to see if you have an employee assistance program (EAP) that can help you find the proper support you may need if things are just too much to handle on your own.
