Causes of stress, worry, and anxiety falls into two main categories: external and internal factors.
External factors are normally outside of an individual’s self-control. External factors that cause stress includes work stress, financial obligations, taking care of a sick family member or a traumatic event (i.e. death of a loved one, a natural disaster, or being assaulted). Then there are internal factors that cause stress such as fear and uncertainty, change, unrealistic expectationsor negative thinking.
Stress, worry, or anxiety are not normallyisolated toeither one external or internal factor.Everyday life is full of a combination of triggers. If you are one of the many people struggling with stress, worry, or anxiety, here are five ways to effectively combat them now.
Meditate
Whether you decide to meditate first thing in the morning so that you begin your day with a clean slate and fresh mindor practice doing 5-minute breathing techniques throughout the day, practicing meditation can help ease anxietybringing you to a relaxed state.
Any form of exercise
Whether you run on the treadmill, do yoga, bike ride or take a brisk walk it is important to keep your body active. When you are consistently active, you lower your body’s stress hormones. In addition,your body releases chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural way of minimizing pain and discomfort while bringing about feelings of euphoria and general well-being giving you a natural happy-feeling.
Prioritize relaxation
In general, rest and sleep are vital to every person’s overall health. So, it is no surprise that sleep is an important natural stress reducer. Adequate sleep helps your body rejuvenate itself, improves mental concentration, and regulates your mood.
Invest in essential oils
Aromatherapy is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as the inhalation or bodily application (as by massage) of fragrant essential oils (as from flowers and fruits) for therapeutic purposes; the use of aroma to enhance a feeling of well-being. Studies have shown that essential oils such as lavender, sandalwood, chamomile, and bergamot can be effectively used to calm moods, increase relaxation, decrease stress, and anxiety.
Set boundaries
Majority of life’s stressors or triggers are out of anindividuals’ control. You may not be able to control other adults or certain work situations;however, you can control yourself and how you react. So, for the situations that you able to have an opinion on or control over the final outcome, learn how to say no. Stopoverextending yourself to the point where your mental health is at risk. Reduce your stress levels by being selective about which additional work project you take on or which extracurricular activity you participate in. If that extracurricular activity is feeling less pleasurable and more like a daunting task, then it is time to remove it from your life.
While there will always be situations in life that can cause you to stress, you can make the decision to focus on what really matters in life. Choosing to focus on the positive may not always be an easy fete, however, small tools such as Japa mala beads can continuously guide you on your journey to happiness.
