How to Manage Stress, When Your Life's A Mess
Stress. Something we all have had to go through. We experience it often & for most, every day!
I know a lot of you are going through, are about to or are just coming out of exam blocks so...
Firstly, I just want to say to everyone who has finished their exams:
CONGRATS!!
YOU SURVIVED!
To everyone still going through or going in to exam block, I just want to say you will get through this, & hopefully this post will help you a little.
I've done a post on my insta (ßclick to view) about stress management but thought it would be easier for you to read/find if I put it here + added more tips for the ultimate guide...
How to Manage Stress, When Your Life's A Mess
- Cry - Honestly, I like to start my
de-stress routine by crying it out! Allow yourself to momentarily sit with
your emotions & flush it all out... I recommend taking a shower &
crying, whilst you're crying in the shower imagine your
tears/sadness/stress being flushed away down the drain. You can also give yourself a mini massage by; massaging your shoulders, neck & temples to help relieve tension.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol &
nicotine - What
many people misunderstand about caffeine, alcohol & nicotine is that
all three are stimulants that can actually make you more stressed. (Note: alcohol is a
depressant in large quantities, however in small quantities it is a
stimulant. Either way it will not help alleviate stress.)
- Get
some exercise – This
doesn’t necessarily mean you need to do anything intense, but when you are
stressed your stress hormones increase the level of adrenaline &
cortisol in your body. Going for a brisk walk can help calm down these
stress hormones & make you feel more relaxed… It is recommended that
you get some exercise everyday (before or after work or during lunch is a
clever idea). Exercise will also help you sleep more soundly.
- Try
relaxation techniques –
There are so many relaxation techniques you can try out to find the best
suited for you… Meditation/mindful breathing are very commonly known
techniques to help you de-stress. There are many phone apps you can
download to guide you as well as YouTube videos (The app I use: Breathe). I recommend doing this in
the morning & before bed (at least 5 minutes).
- Take
control – You
are in control of your body & your mind (if you don’t feel like you’re
in control of your mind, try the previous & next tips to help centre yourself). Take
control by writing down what your main stresses are & then write down
all the possible solutions… Another way you can take control is by
planning your day the night before or in the morning. Don’t overload your
schedule with things to do (which will
stress you even more), keep it realistic & prioritize the most
important things. For those of you who have exams & need to study,
your studying would come second… The reason I say second is because
self-care, such as meditation, eating, exercise, should always come first!
- Talk
to someone – I say
this a lot, especially to those with mental illnesses, talking to someone
can be such a wonderful way to release built up tension by discussing it…
You can also just talk to someone to get your mind off the stress. Everyone
experiences stress, so you are never alone!
- Create
a stress journal – If
the previous tip was scary to you or you don’t feel you have anyone to
talk to, I recommend creating a stress
journal. This journal, is a private place for you to blurt out all
your stresses… Also, like I said in point no. 5, this would also be a good place to write what your
stresses are & write down all the possible solutions.
- Learn
to say “NO” – I said
this in my previous post about stress, but saying “NO” is such an
important thing we all need to learn! Especially when you’re feeling
stressed, saying “NO” can be such a lifesaver when you feel you have so
much to do but not enough time. If you have a fear of saying “No” to
people, there are some pre-prepared phrases for you to remember the next
time someone asks you to do something or go somewhere:
“Now is not a good time as I’m in the middle
of something. Why don’t you ask me again
later…?”
“I’d love to do this,
however …”
“I would love to,
however I have other priorities & won’t be able to commit…”
- Get
more SLEEP - I
know so many of you (this includes myself) that either; don't go to bed at
a reasonable hour or don't get enough sleep (often both). This can be a
hard one as stress can often keep us awake at night, and the lack of sleep also causes us more stress... lovely. Don't worry though,
there are lots of tips & tricks you can try out to help ease you off
to sleep... A few are:
·
DO NOT use any electronic devices 1 hour prior to falling asleep.
This one might be the hardest for most of us. However, it is so important in
getting a good night’s sleep. The light from our phones causes our brains to
stay active and can make it harder to fall asleep. Try reading a book, journaling,
talking to your family or playing with your pet instead.
·
This next tip goes hand-in-hand with the previous: Don’t sleep
with your phone, next to your head, under your pillow or even on your side
table… Aside from the high possibility we have of phone radiation (that can
cause cancer & brain tumours), this can also disturb your sleep. You can
either put it on your desk, in a draw or outside of your room completely. (If
your excuse is you need an alarm, go buy an alarm clock). Turning the phone off
or on silent/sleep mode is also a smart idea.
·
Drink soothing teas before bed. A warm cup of tea can feel like a
hug… I recommend chamomile or sleepy time teas as they are two of the most
soothing, & avoid anything with caffeine in it.
·
Have a bath or shower… A hot bath or shower will have a similar
effect as a hot cup of tea. It will make you feel warm & sleepy.
·
Have a good, healthy meal a few hours before bed. There’s nothing
like a great meal to put you to sleep, & of course it’s important to make
sure it’s full of protein & nutrients to keep your body working smoothly
(this will also help with stress). My favourite meal is my mom’s vegan Japanese
katsu curry!
·
My favourite sleepy time trick is LAVENDER! Most of you know by now, that I am in love with
lavender! It is my all time favourite scent & is also the ultimate sleepy
time aromatherapy scent. You can either purchase a pre-made lavender pillow
spray or even a lavender pillow pouch (contains: crushed up lavender, lavender
oil in a pouch that you place under your pillow), OR you can purchase a bottle
of organic lavender oil to use as you please! With lavender oil you’re free to
either: create your own pillow spray, bath oils (add it to your bath before bed
for ultimate snoozing), body spray or however you please. This is the one I use
à Lavender Essential Oil
·
As a last case scenario, sleeping pills… I recommend looking for sleeping
pills that are non-habit forming. If you buy sleeping pills that can cause a
habit, often your body will get used to the pill & you’ll need more to get
you to sleep. Therefore it is a last case scenario. A quick google search can
lead you to many non-habit forming sleeping pills. You can also just buy Melatonin,
which is the sleep hormone in your brain. Try the previous tips & tricks first before reaching for the sleeping pills (if you are under 18 talk to your parent/guardian about sleeping aids) & please always do research when purchasing
any drug… this includes Melatonin (too much Melatonin can actually have the
reverse effects, making you awake & hyper).
Final note: if you suffer from difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep or restless sleep you might want to consider consulting a (sleep) doctor, as there could be other issues such as: sleep apnea.
※※※
If you made it to the end, then thank you for sticking with me!
As of tomorrow I will be off on my adventure to; Singapore, Myanmar (Burma) & Thailand!
I will be doing a lot of travelling, so I might be able to upload maybe once within those 35 days to this blog... Don't worry though, my insta will be very active! (as long as I have internet)
I appreciate all of your support!
I truly hope you try out these tips & they work for you!
(Please let me know if they do)
If you have any suggestions on what I should write about next, whether it be self-help, fashion, favourites etc. then please let me know in the comments of this blog or any of my social medias.
(You can also send me a message to the left of this page).
Much love.
xx
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