Stress is an emotional feeling or a physical tension that may come from any event or thoughts that will make us feel frustrated, nervous, and angry. It is our body's reaction to a certain demand or challenge. Sometimes stress can be a positive thing, especially if you have some deadlines to meet since it will rush you to do the things before that certain deadline comes. But being stressed for a long time is harmful to our health.
There are ways to cope up with stress that may vary depending on the level of our stress. Stress must be addressed properly before it can affect our psychological aspects.
Here are four ways out of eight how to cope up with stress before it gets worse;
Learn to let go
Plan things ahead
Do things that will make you relax and enjoy
Set your priorities
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✍ Learn to let go
Holding on to something that keeps us frustrated, angry or sad can trigger stress. We should learn how to let go of the things that already happened, which we cannot change anymore. Stop blaming others or yourself for what had happened, blaming won't help and cannot brings back the past. It's better to let go of all of the things that can trigger our stress. Stop holding onto problems and learn to accept things as they are. Acceptance can help us to overcome our past. You can never be truly happy and at peace not until you let go of the things that you cannot change and not meant for you.
I've been having a hard time letting go of the things that keep hurting me before, especially during my teenage years, it is the stage where the confusion is arising. I keep blaming my mom silently for what had happened to me, and by doing so the more I keep hurting myself. When I started to understand things little by little and stopped blaming other people, I have learned to let go. Letting go of the past is hard but worth the try as it makes you better, and I did get better when I started to let go and accept things as they are.
✍ Plan things ahead
Planning things like making a to-do list will help us to avoid stress or cope with stress. When you planned things you already have a layout or pattern to follow and don't rush yourself because everything is aligned or being organized ahead. If you don't plan things you probably cannot organize things because you will be lacking time to do so, planning is a good way to cope up or avoid stress as your mind is more relax than not planning at all.
As a mother, most of my time is preoccupied I don't make a to-do list literally but I already have it on my mind. If there are things I want to do within the day, I already painted them on my mind during nighttime. I am the kind of person who got upset when I cannot follow the outline I made in mind, so to avoid being stress I already plan things ahead of time. I don't like rushing myself it's not my type, I wanted to take things lightly to avoid stressors. So planning is an effective method for me to cope up or avoid stress.
✍ Do things that will make you relax and enjoy
Doing things that can make you relax can ease stress, find time to relax. We are humans that usually got exhausted by our daily routines, especially those who are working with pressures. Relaxing can make us calm and recharge. Make time to give yourself a break, you need it after working hard.
As for me, I've been a stay-at-home mommy for almost 3 years. Being a mother of a toddler is exhausting. The only time I can leave home is when I go out grocery shopping. As a way of treating myself, I do chair massage for at least an hour to destress. Whenever I am home, during my free time I write articles. I love writing it releases a lot of thoughts in my mind. After writing my head seems lighter. Writing is also my way of releasing my stress, so doing what you love and enjoy can help you cope up with stress. If I got bored writing, I will watch movies to find some inspiration, to relax, and see other dimensions.
✍ Set your priorities
Setting your priorities is important, doing your priorities first will make you a goal-oriented person. Doing unnecessary things that are out of your priorities list will likely mess up your timeline and will make your outline chaotic. If you like to do a lot of things then do it one step at a time, priority first. In this way, you can focus and avoid many stressors or cope up with your stress.
I always want to do a lot of things but doing it all at the same time is not a good idea, aside from I'll get too much pressure and exhaust me probably those things will fail. To organize it, I set my priorities. As a mom and woman, I want to achieve something in my life but I am taking it slow and always consider my priority which is to be a mom and a wife. As I said, I want to take things lightly so I don't get old early 😅
I will continue this in the next article, I don't like to bore you because even me, I got bored proofreading my work if it's too long. So let's just cut it here.
Are you stress? Then maybe try to apply the first four, it works for me who knows it will work for you too.
Thank you for reading!
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Planning ahead is really helpful. I am always plotting my to do list and not following it is really frustrating. So to avoid frustration, i'll just do everything to accomplish all of it. And it's also kind of motivating if you have a goal in mind and it's fulfilling to achieved those. Nice ways you have here anyway, these things can be really helpful in dealing with stress. :))