Stress and anxiety are emotions that the majority of people experience nearly every day. We live in a fast-paced world where our lives are busier than ever before, so as unfortunate as it may seem, it is completely normal to experience stress and have anxiety. Although these things can come in different forms for different people, it is important to know that you are not alone.
Stress usually leads to anxiety, but anxiety can also lead to stress. Our everyday responsibilities such as work, school, children, relationships, money, etc. can all cause copious amounts of stress for us, and this can have both emotional and physical effects on us. Mental and emotional stress can trigger feelings of anxiety in those of us that are prone to it. Anxiety can be defined as feelings of unease, worry, or nervousness, usually about something with an uncertain outcome. Anxiety can also consist of these same feelings regarding something that hasn’t yet happened, and might not even happen in the future. It is normal for individuals with anxiety to fear or worry about events that might not even occur. These emotions can be debilitating, and can cause us to feel sad, lonely, distracted, and unmotivated. It is important to know that there are ways to lower stress levels naturally, and that there are simple ways that you can help yourself to feel better during everyday life.
Eat Well & Hydrate
Eating a healthy, balanced diet along with sufficient hydration is one way to help lower your stress levels, and help boost your overall mood and level of confidence. When we eat healthier (with sweets and junk food in moderation, of course!), we tend to have more energy throughout the day. It is natural for stress to cause an increase in appetite, but this can often lead to cravings for sweet and/or salty treats that might not be beneficial for our bodies. It is important during times of stress to keep healthy snacks on hand and healthy foods in the refrigerator. As we begin to fuel our bodies with healthy foods packed with vitamins and nutrients, we will be able to combat stress levels more than we could if we loaded up on junk food cravings. Proper hydration throughout the day will also help to combat stress and anxiety levels. Daily stresses and worries result in us using a lot of physical and mental energy to stay focused throughout the day, which is why it is important that we stay hydrated. It is typically recommended that we drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Water helps lower stress levels by providing us with more energy as well as easing tension. Our bodies are made up of about 70% water, so we need to consume water more than we sometimes realize. Proper hydration will aid in sleep quality, digestion, weight loss, energy levels, skin/hair health, and overall mood. So remember, eat your veggies and drink your water!
Sleep Well
Sleep is an extremely important part of our overall well-being throughout the day. Good quality and sufficient sleep will help to reduce stress levels in the body. If we miss out on good quality sleep, we tend to become irritable, drowsy, and lethargic, and have a hard time concentrating. Sleep deprivation will increase stress levels, which will make us even more tired on top of that. This can lead to other serious health issues such as high blood pressure, which will increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. It is important to get at least 8 hours of decent sleep so you can feel more relaxed and at ease throughout the day. One rule to remember if you are trying to get a good night’s sleep is to limit screen time before bed. We are used to scrolling through our phones, answering texts, and watching Netflix before we sleep, but this will actually cause over-stimulation in our brains which will make it more difficult to fall asleep. Try reading a book in place of a screen, as this will support rather than hinder your natural melatonin production, which will help you sleep better. You will thank yourself the next morning when you wake up feeling well-rested and ready to take on the day!
Manage Your Time
It is easy to become stressed out when we have busy schedules, which is something most of us have these days. A simple technique to combat stress levels is managing your time and staying organized. When we are organized and know exactly what we have to do each day, it is easier for us to stay on track, accomplish our tasks and goals, and therefore feel less stressed. If you need to write things down in a daily planner because it’s easier to have a visual on your day-to-day schedule, then do it! A lot of times, writing things down can help us feel more at ease because we feel more organized. It also takes away the looming worry of forgetting to do something or be somewhere, which is a common anxiety that most of us have!
Interested In Learning More?
If you have questions about managing your stress levels, or if you are dealing with physical ailments that may be worsening with high-stress levels, contact us today! We would love to discuss how we can help you get back to doing what you love every day, whatever that may be. Today is the first day of the rest of your life!
Tags: physical therapist, health and wellness, physical health, Physical Fitness, Fitness, Physical Activity, Arancia Physical Therapy, physical therapy, stress relief, health, Anxiety and Stress, anxiety, stress
