4 Healthy Habits That Can Reduce Your Stress

No one likes stress. And although some claim to “work better under pressure,” stress really isn’t a good long-term strategy for anyone. It can have a major impact on your mental, physical, and emotional health.

Even in the short term, stress can cause physical symptoms like upset stomach, fatigue, chest pain, insomnia, and headaches. And over time, symptoms only get worse.

If you want to avoid the side effects of stress (as we all do), it’s important to develop healthy habits to combat the stressors that naturally come with life.

In this post, we’re going to cover a few healthy habits that can have a major impact on your stress levels. And they’re relatively easy to implement too!

Ditch Unhealthy Habits

You probably already know your strengths and weaknesses, but if you want to combat stress, it’s time to buckle down and address them.

If you have any habits like drinking alcohol in excess, smoking cigarettes, or using recreational drugs, it’s a good time to get those habits in check. These may feel like stress-relievers, but they are actually making your stress worse.

Alcohol is especially bad for stress because it can interrupt healthy sleep patterns. And when you’re already having trouble sleeping, this can be a recipe for disaster.

And if you currently have any dietary weaknesses, like caffeine or sugar, you may want to cut those too. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night, and you won’t need the caffeine or sugar rush.

Practice Breathing and Meditation

Do you know how your heart races when you get anxiety? The brain sends signals to your body to set it into what we call “fight or flight” mode. But here’s something cool you may not have known: You can send signals back to the brain to get it to calm everything back down. And you can do this by slowing down your breathing and focusing on the present moment.

When you’re feeling especially stressed, take a deep breath and release it slowly. As you release the breath, set your focus to the flow of your breath. Notice how it sounds and feels as it passes over your tongue and teeth. At this moment, that is all that’s happening. You are breathing. And when your body calms down, your brain will either stop the signals entirely or slow them down.

Exercise Daily

Even if you’re not one for exercise, this is a healthy habit you should try. Exercise helps you feel an overall sense of calm. And during a workout, your body releases endorphins to help combat the pain associated with working out. This can contribute to a great feeling after your workout that many people refer to as “runner’s high.” It’s a great stress-busting tool to have in your arsenal.

Cut Stressful Situations

This may seem like an obvious tip, but when you’re feeling especially stressed, it’s a good time to make some tough decisions on how to spend your time. In times of stress, you must shift the focus to yourself. It’s necessary for your own health. This means that you might have to start saying no to certain responsibilities. At this time, avoid doing anything for the sole reason that you feel socially obligated. You have to go to work and perform certain tasks, but if you’re over-extended, it’s time to cut back on that to-do list. You can start taking on projects again slowly when you’re feeling up to it.

Healthy habits are important at any time, but they’re especially crucial during times of stress. So when you’re feeling completely stressed out, think about changing a few habits and replacing them with something health-conscious.