How to Eliminate Stress: 8 Tips From the Experts Feeling overwhelmed, frantic or rushed? Can’t seem to get a break? Working on that to-do list, only to see it growing faster than you can manage? We all experience stress, so here at Physical Therapy Specialists of Idaho, we know how to manage it both from personal experience and profession experience.
Here are 8 tips to help you eliminate stress
Get Moving Physical activity has been shown to help the body release endorphins, which can produce a positive feeling. It also helps reduce anxiety and stress. Find movement activities (doesn’t have to be exercise) that you enjoy, so you can have fun while you feel better as you do them.
Take Shortcuts Find ways to make semi-homemade meals, saving time with pre-cut produce or frozen veggies and always having ingredients for your go-to meals. When you cook, you can also prepare food in larger batches so you can take it to work, or create your own freezer meals for upcoming weeks.
Hydrate and Heat Increase your water intake and stay hydrated, which makes it easier for the muscle tissue to clear out any bad hormones released under stress. Apply heat which will help with relaxation and increasing blood supply to the muscles, clearing out the hormones and loosening tight muscles.
Create a Meal Plan Planning, in general, creates a sense of order and decreases the stress of the unknown, and meal planning can be helpful for this too.
Make Time to Be Present Carefully protecting time for personal relaxation is challenging on good days, let alone on stressful ones. Making time to be still and present in what’s happening now versus ruminating over the past or worrying about the future can be beneficial to preventing or managing the stress we experience.
Consider Nourishment as Self-Care It can be easy to skip meals or make food choices we wouldn’t otherwise make when we’re stressed. Unfortunately, that can lead to unstable blood sugar, excessive hunger (that can lead to overeating later) or food choices that don’t help us achieve our health goals. Eating regularly timed meals or snacks and having a “nourishment list.” Choose several meal or snack ideas that you like, things that don’t take much effort and that you always have on hand. Aim for a balance of carbohydrate, protein and healthy fat, remembering to add vegetables. Then you can use this list to quickly choose something to eat.
Use Technology the Right Way Technology can be a stressor with its constant notifications and immediate access to time-consuming distractions. It can also be a helpful tool. Find a healthy breathing pattern and get clarity with key points and a goal of the day.
Find Your Support Support can also be in the form of health professionals like our PTSI clinicians who can help you come up with non-stressful options that work for you and your health goals.
Are aches and pains stressing you out and getting in the way of your daily activities? If simple home interventions are not helping to lessen aches, pains and discomfort, it’s time to see a physical therapist. Call us today and lets get you scheduled for a 10 minute no charge consultation 208-478-1488
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