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What are the Best Ways of Dealing With Stress?

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What are the best ways of dealing with stress?

Stress affects us at all at one time or another (and, let’s face it, for most of us it’s a pretty frequent occurrence!). Whether the stress you’re experiencing feels relatively minor or you’re concerned about the impact it’s beginning to have on your life, there are some simple tips that can help you deal with it.

I’ve put together a shortlist of what I think some of the best ways of dealing with stress are. Hopefully, it should give you some ideas on how to make life feel a little easier.

1) Get some exercise

This might sound a bit odd at first, but I’ve actually found it’s one of the best ways of banishing stress. When you’ve had a really frustrating day at work or there’s a problem you can’t solve, for example, going out for a short run can not only work off all that tension but also help clear your head.

Exercise is also often said to give you an emotional boost. Personally, I do find it improves my mood, but there’s plenty of debate in the academic world about the extent to which this is true. Still, it’s worth a go!

2) Get more sleep

I think this tip is invaluable. More often than not, when you’re stressed – and particularly if you’re busy – sleep tends to get pushed to the sidelines.

While you may feel like you have a little more time by doing this, you’ll soon find that’s not the case. The fact is that humans need plenty of sleep, and if we don’t get it we lack energy, have poor concentration, and our mood drops. I don’t know about you, but for me that tends to increase my stress levels, not to mention making me less productive.

3) Set aside some ‘me time’

My next tip is to put aside a little time just for you. What with commitments at work, home, and with friends, it’s very easy to end up with no time for yourself. By keeping the odd evening or weekend free for you to enjoy your hobbies or simply relax in front of the TV, you give yourself time to unwind, which should help you feel less stressed.

4) Talk through your problems

Arguably one of the best ways of beating stress is to talk about your problems. Whether this is just by having a cup of tea and a chat with a good friend or seeking some help and advice from a colleague, it can be a hugely effective way to feel like you’re coping a little better.

After all, a problem shared is a problem halved! Plus, it can also give you some ideas of ways to tackle any issues that are contributing to your stress. Simply taking control in this way should make you feel better.

5) Set yourself a challenge/learn something new

Learning something new and setting yourself a challenge are both excellent ways to deal with stress. They might not combat any problems you have directly, but they certainly help improve your overall mindset.

For example, reaching a goal you’ve set yourself can be really rewarding, while learning a new skill will help boost confidence. These challenges both require you to take charge of your life and, as a result, you should be better able to keep stress at bay.

6) Think about your overall health

It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your overall health. I talked about exercise and sleep above, which could both fall into this category, but there is more you can do.

For example, poorly ventilated rooms and offices – as well as pollution – can mean your oxygen levels are somewhat lacking. This can lead to problems getting to sleep, in addition to low energy and depression. So, if you see oxygen canisters for sale, it can be worth buying these to help revitalize yourself when needed.