Let’s face it: life can be stressful.
Work, family, world events, the changing of the seasons—even in the best of situations, they can take a toll, emotionally and physically.
If you’re suffering from the effects of mild stress or anxiety, take heart. There are effective strategies for coping with the stress of day-to-day life.
How to Manage Stress
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Self-Care
Small changes in your lifestyle can make a big impact.
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Regular Exercise
Exercise is one of the best things you can do to relieve stress, and it works best when you do it on a regular basis. Find something physical that you like to do, and start a routine.
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Eat Healthfully
Avoid meal-skipping and junk-food snacks. Reach for nutritious energy-boosters when you’re flagging.
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Relaxation Techniques
Relax by practicing yoga or mindful meditation, taking deep breaths, listening to music, or getting a massage.
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Organization
Organize your tasks to help avoid procrastination and stay on top of what needs to be done. Make prioritized to-do lists. Do one thing at a time rather than multitasking. Learn how to say no.
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Keep Perspective
Challenge your negative thoughts. You may be able to free yourself from a cycle of anxiety by letting go of things that are not in your control.
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Get Enough Sleep
In times of stress, it’s critical to get a good night’s sleep every night. Exercise, relaxation, and supplements like melatonin can help.
You can also try aromatherapy—calming scents include lavender, geranium, rose, sandalwood, and bergamot—and reducing caffeine.
Other tips for enhancing sleep include:
- skipping long daytime naps
- sticking to regular sleeping and waking times every day
- keeping your bedroom dark and quiet
- avoiding exercise within a few hours of bedtime
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Nutritional Support
Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to the symptoms of stress and anxiety. If you’re not getting the following in your diet, consider supplements.
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Vitamin A
The antioxidant properties of vitamin A can help keep symptoms of stress under control.
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B-complex Vitamins
The Bs keep your nervous system healthy.
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Vitamin C
Another antioxidant, C can guard against oxidative damage—which can pump up anxiety—to your nervous system.
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Vitamin D
Your body uses vitamin D to help absorb other vitamins, so if you’re D-deficient, you may be deficient in other vitamins as well—which can aggravate stress.
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Vitamin E
A stressed-out body uses up vitamin E quickly, so supplementing can bring things back into balance.
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Magnesium
The mineral magnesium is critical to health; a deficiency can bring on symptoms of stress.
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Omega 3s
Research indicates that omega 3s can help with stress. In one study of medical students, those who supplemented with omega-3 essential fatty acids saw their anxiety symptoms go down by 20 percent.
Omega 3s also reduce the body’s inflammatory response, which can help with pain.
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Other Supplements
Consider alternative medicine for more support.
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Reishi Mushrooms
They contribute to a calm, centered feeling of physical and emotional well-being.
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Cannabidiol
CBD may also be useful. After evaluating results from 76 studies, a team of scientists deemed CBD to show promising results in the treatment of anxiety and stress.
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