4 Super Strategies to Combat Stress

Sharon Moore January 08, 2013

Dead tired with your busy schedule, work, personal obligations, etc? It seems like you’re not alone. Majority of people in UK, US, Canada and many parts of the world say they are overly stressed. Among the biggest reasons are job, health, money, and marital status.

You really don’t want to be stressed. Stress is linked to a wide range of diseases. It weakens your immune system, destroys healthy cells in your body, and affects your mental and physical wellbeing. Silent killer, it is. If you’re tired of the usual stress-busting strategies (or if they are stressing you too!), we looked for the super strategies that can definitely blow your stress away and make you feel relieved and refreshed!

Reach out to others.

Many people underestimate the power of compassion. But other than increasing your sense of wellbeing, reaching out to others can also reduce your stress levels. According to Dr. Stephen Post, author of It’s Good to be Good, taking a vacation from your stress and problems and helping others is a tremendously healthy thing. At the same time, giving back allows you to realise that the problems you are having may be so little as compared to the problems experienced by other people. If you are stressed because you weren’t able to buy the car you want, you should know that thousands of people out there do not even have a home.

Reunite with nature.

If you spend most of your free time looking at the computer screen, you’re actually missing the special gift nature is offering you. Decades of research suggest that interacting with nature has many positive effects not just to your mental health, but also to your physical health and wellbeing. Instead of shopping, why not do some backpacking this weekend? Connecting with nature was found to be effective in alleviating stress and speeding up a person’s recovery from it. In a study by the University of Kansas, researchers found that people who go backpacking increase their creativity by up to 50%! Another study by the University of Michigan reveals that just an hour of reconnecting with nature can increase a person’s attention and memory by 20%.

Beat your stressors.

It is not enough that you lessen the impact of stress in your life. You also have to do something to eliminate much of your stressors. For instance, small conflicts at home, in school, or at work can pile up and lead to huge problems that can totally stress you out. Before they get bigger and bigger, make an effort to resolve even the smallest issues you have.

Pamper yourself.

You’ve got to love your body so it stays healthy and free from stress. Don’t forget to take a break from your usual routines and spend quality time with yourself. Relax, do nothing, watch a good movie, visit the spa, meditate, join a yoga class, colour your hair, dress up – never deprive yourself of these simple pleasures as they are essential to a happy and satisfying life.

 

Dear Readers,

Have you ever felt so stressed that you could hardly work and do the things you normally do? What did you do to beat stress? We’d love to hear your story.

Share your comments below!