Mental health awareness doesn’t mean fighting stress, anxiety, depression and other everyday mental health issues, rather it means consciously modulating the habits that intensify those issues. Once you are in control of your habits, instead of checking your habits, you would automatically be in a much better shape, both mentally and physically. — Abhijit Naskar
When it comes to getting our stress levels under control, we need to understand that stress can be like the accelerator pedal – it can take us forward or backwards, depending on how we choose to use it. A little stress can even be good for us, in the same way, that our muscles get stronger when we partake in resistance training.
Like anything else, we need to find our balance when it comes to stress, which is why we have collected some of the best science-proven tips that will help you de-stress.
Move your body
Even if you hate it while you’re doing it, you will love the results of exercise once you’re done. Everything feels better when you’ve exercised, because your body is flooded with mood-boosting endorphins when you’re physically active.
These chemicals are nature’s best response to stress because they balance the stress hormone cortisol and help bring stress levels down. It also has benefits for your heart health, can help you to manage your weight and give your energy levels a boost.
Furthermore, you can reap the benefits of exercise without punishing yourself with a type of exercise you hate. Even something as simple as walking the dog or mowing the lawn counts.
Take some ‘you’ time every day
We live in a world where we need to be constantly ‘on’, and this is affecting our stress levels negatively. Even if it’s only a few minutes a day, escape this by switching off your electronics and focusing on something that will allow you to recharge. Don’t reach for your phone for the first half-hour of being awake, and take some time to journal, listen to relaxing music or enjoy a cup of coffee in silence before your day starts. Remember that only you can do this for yourself and that you need to take charge of your day if you want to reap the benefits of destressing.
Work towards being more positive
Happiness and positivity is a choice, and one you need to choose every day. Play with your dog, watch a funny video with a loved one, listen to a motivational podcast, share happy memories, and always look for the positive side of a situation.
Practice deep breathing exercises
When you experience a mentally stressed state, your body activates your sympathetic nervous system, sending your body into fight-or-flight mode. Deep breathing exercises have proven to reduce the risk for heart disease and restore calm, in so doing also reducing stress. Try out a few different forms and see which works best for you.
Prioritise things that will help you destress every day
You know yourself best, and you know what your body needs. So listen to it. Eat a well-balanced diet that helps to fight inflammation in the body, avoid sugar and processed foods, enjoy calming music while you work, take a warm bath or shower at the end of the day, treat yourself to a massage regularly, and take some time to wind down before going to bed at the end of the day. Leave your phone outside your bedroom when you do so, as blue light can get in the way of you getting good quality sleep.
You and your immediate family have access to the ICAS EWP which provides an omnichannel point of access.
