Stress is a disorder that affects each and everyone of us, and our outlooks on life. In my last article, I talked about five specific ways that stress can ruin our lives. These ways were that stress can affect you: it can affect your decision making, your mental, emotional and physical health, stress can ruin relationships, and cause you to participate in actions that could become addictive. The purpose of my last article was to make you aware of how stressing could essentially cause us to lose our lives. My hope is that now, since you have already been made aware, I can give you coping mechanisms to help you better deal with your stress.
1. Use grounding techniques.
Grounding techniques help you to balance yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. You do this so that you can connect yourself back to the present. My personal grounding technique is a 7-step process. Step 1 is taking a deep breath in through your nose for four seconds, holding it for seven seconds, and then letting the deep breath out through your mouth for eight seconds. Step 2 is listing five things that you can see. Step 3 is listing four things that you can feel, whether that be physically or emotionally. Step 4 is listing three things that you can hear. Step 5 is listing two things that you can smell. Step 6 is listing one positive thing about yourself. Lastly, step 7 is repeating step 1, taking a deep breath in through your nose for four seconds, holding it for seven seconds, and then letting the deep breath out through your mouth for eight seconds. These techniques help you to remember the here-and-now.
2. Have quiet time with yourself.
Between work, school, family, and extracurricular activities, it is rare to get a moment of peace. However, it is essential that you make this time a priority. I have begun taking just one hour out of my day to sit and have quiet time with myself. I can honestly say that I have learned so much about myself, and I love myself so much more all because of this 1 hour. Not only does this hour give you time of peace, but it also gives you time to think and find clarity on many issues that you may be struggling with.
3. Practice self-care.
Everyone's definition of self-care is different because we all have different interests. However, whether your definition is different from mine or not, PRACTICE SELF-CARE. Whether that is sitting on the couch watching Netflix or Hulu, going grocery shopping, making lists, writing in your planner, going to the mall or the movies, doing face masks, or reading a good book. We all need to spend more time doing the things that we actually enjoy, and the things that bring us peace.
4. Start journaling.
I can honestly say that journaling every night has become very therapeutic, and is one of the things I look forward to throughout my day. When you write down how you are feeling or what occurred throughout your day, you are releasing all the emotions that have been pinned up. Journaling also forces you to become in-tune with your emotions and causes you to learn yourself. When you truly know yourself and you are in-tune with your emotions, then your wounds could begin to heal. As wounds begin to heal, burdens begin to lift, and the weight of stress becomes lighter.
5. Eliminate negativity and the causes of your stress.
We cannot figure out a solution to a problem until we have identified the source of the problem. Whether it be your job, a relationship, or a friendship, the problem has to be identified so that it can be determined if you can lessen the cause or eliminate it all together. Two of the most common problems that we as a human race share are the fear of failure and taking on too much. My parents always tell me that "what's for you is for you, and if it wasn't for you then something greater is on the way". I challenge you to apply that quote to your life. I also challenge you to say no to at least 3 things every week. It is impossible for you to be everywhere and do everything for everyone. Stop spreading yourself thin.
My hope is that while reading this article, you saw yourself. You saw yourself using these coping mechanisms, and living a life of peace and happiness. I also want you to read this article and know that you are loved more than words can express, and that you are never alone. All five of the coping mechanisms listed are practices that I personally use daily. I am hoping that by giving you my personal coping mechanisms, we can all reduce stress, and maybe even eliminate it all together.
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