The year 2020 went down in history as one of the toughest years ever thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, wildfires, and the tough economic recession, according to a recent article published in the Washington Post. Worse still, 2021 is yet to show any signs of improvement. This means that you may have to go through another rough year. The trick is to learn how to survive in the current stressful times by taking care of your mental and physical health.
To get you started, here are five ways to stay calm and reduce stress.
Be Intentional
One of the most effective ways of coping with stress is to be intentional about reducing your stress. By keeping in mind that stressing over a temporary situation will not change your situation for the better, you will intentionally stay calm for the sake of your mental health and overall wellbeing.
You can achieve this by taking part in activities that will help you calm down or by simply practicing positive thinking. Some of the things you can do to train your mind to think positively include training yourself to see the funny side of both good and bad situations, spending time with positive people, practicing gratitude, and using positive self-talk to reinforce your self-esteem.
Take a Break
At times, the world may seem to be moving too fast, especially when you have a lot of goals to accomplish within a short time. Such pressure can add to your stress, eventually taking a toll on your health. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), taking a break from your stressors can help a great deal in re-energizing you to face the situation with more confidence and better equip you to handle stress. Take the time to retreat and strategize when you start feeling overwhelmed. This will enable you to stay calm in stressful situations.
Breathe and Meditate
Stress is designed to help you respond quickly to danger and is part of the body’s natural survival instincts. It prepares the body to “fight or flight,” according to the Harvard Medical School (HBS). Even so, it can be harmful to the body if it is triggered by normal day-to-day activities such as being late for work or staying in isolation. The “fight or flight” mechanism informs the brain that the body is in danger, which prompts the heart to pump faster to provide more energy through respiration. To lower your heart rate and reassure your body that there is no danger, consider practicing meditation yoga.
Do What You Enjoy Most
Research by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) shows that taking part in leisure activities can help improve mental health. For this reason, consider incorporating enjoyable activities during stressful times as it may help you calm down.
Look at the Positive Side
While it is suitable to find solutions to what is stressing you, not every stressor has an immediate solution. Even worse, some problems have no solutions at all. For instance, the loss of a loved one can cause severe stress, yet it does not have an immediate or even practical solution. In case you find it difficult to calm down, choose to look at the brighter side of a situation. For example, thinking about the good moments you shared with the deceased can help you smile and calm down.
To stay calm during a stressful time, follow these five tips. Additionally, purchase the right health insurance and life insurance policies to help reduce the stress of unplanned emergencies or losses. For all your insurance needs, contact Donald Weiss Insurance Services today. Our dedicated team is ready to assist you with all your insurance needs.