10 tips for dealing with stress

Stress is an inevitable part of our lives, but it is important to deal with it in a healthy way. Too much stress can lead to physical and mental problems, so it is essential to have effective strategies to manage stress. Here are 10 valuable tips to help you reduce stress and live a healthier, more balanced life.

1. Awareness of your stress symptoms

Before you can manage stress, you need to be aware of the symptoms. Do you get symptoms such as headaches or cold hands? Or do you feel gloomy or easily irritable? Symptoms can occur in four different areas: physical, emotional, mental and behavioral. Find out for yourself which symptoms you suffer from and use these as signals. This will help you recognize in time when you are over your limits.

2. Stand back

When you are in the middle of a stressful situation, take a step back. Leave the situation for a while, go for a walk or exercise to clear your mind. Then you can look at the context with an objective eye. Put everything on paper and decide for yourself where you are going to start. This will help you look at the situation from a different perspective and think more clearly.

3. Make time for relaxation

Plan regular moments of relaxation. Take conscious rest and relaxation by, for example, doing relaxation exercises throughout your day. This can be done between your activities and even at work. For example, try to take time for yourself at least 3 times a day and focus on your breathing. Breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds and breathe out again for 5 seconds. Repeat this for 2 minutes.

4. Move more

Physical activity is a powerful remedy for stress. Exercise helps your body release endorphins, which make you happier, and it reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Your body also automatically tightens various muscles when stressed. To relax those tense muscles, you need to move. Do simple stretching exercises or go for a daily walk.

5. Set priorities

Learn how to prioritize your tasks with the Eisenhower Matrix. This matrix has four categories, including activities that are both important and urgent, such as solving a critical system problem. There are also activities that contribute to your goal but can be scheduled at a later time. Then there are activities that, while urgent, do not contribute directly to your goals, and finally there are activities that neither contribute to your goals nor are urgent, such as unnecessary online time wasters. Recognizing these priorities will help you manage your time and energy more effectively.

6. Stop complaining

If you remain stuck in a negative spiral, working to deal with your stressors will become difficult. Complaining is a waste of time. Some things just happen. If it is out of your hands, or if something cannot be reversed, there is no point in continuing to complain about it. Try to recognize these moments in yourself. Accept that some things are out of your control and focus on what you can change. This helps reduce negative thoughts and stress.

7. Turn off notifications

The endless stream of emails and messages from social media create a continuous concert of distracting sounds from your phone. Prevent the tendency to look at your phone at every sound by turning off notifications from certain apps during working hours in your phone settings. Want to focus fully on a task? Let your co-workers know you'll be unavailable for several hours and put your email notifications and phone on silent.

8. Develop a hobby

A very important part of the work process is recharging. In addition to your work, you need something that energizes you. Many people give the excuse that they are too busy to do this, but consider how you spend your time next to work? Do you scroll through your phone or sit and Netflix? Use this time to try new hobbies and discover what energizes you.

9. Listen to music

Did you know that music is stress-reducing? You can actively influence your heart rate and inner peace by listening to quiet music. This is because at some point your breathing automatically moves with the rhythm of the music you are listening to. Slow music calms you down and your body produces oxytocin, which relaxes you.

10. Establish a steady rhythm

Plan your working hours and rest periods carefully. Set a regular schedule for your workday and make sure you turn off your computer after a certain time. By doing so, you give yourself much-needed rest and space to relax. A consistent routine helps your body and mind adjust to a regular pattern. As a result, you reduce the chances of excessive stress.

Do you want to get started with stress?

Would you like to dive deeper to learn how to manage stressors? Or are you considering giving your employees the opportunity to better deal with stress? In our online learning platform you will find an extensive range of online training courses that can help you better deal with stress and many other topics!

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