Last Updated on May 23, 2020 by Ellen
Being a blogger and/or small business owner doesn’t come with any less stress than any other job out there. If you’re looking for some simple stress management activities that you can easily implement, these easy tips are certain to help. It’s time to stop feeling overwhelmed and start feeling empowered in how you can take control of your workflow and business.
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Stress management activities
Isn’t it just amazing how stress can slowly creep up in your life? It’s as if one minute everything is fine. And the next, you’re questioning life and all your past decisions and choices. This isn’t you – it’s the stress talking and taking control.
The good news is that there are things that you can easily do to stop feeling overwhelmed and to help to limit that feeling of stress.
What are five emotional signs of stress?
Truth be told, there isn’t just one telltale sign that you’re feeling stressed. Every single person processes the feeling of being stressed out different. Even though you might have to do some soul-digging and searching, here are a few of the signs of stress that might be your indicator to watch out for and pay attention to:
- Fear
- Sadness
- Inability to concentrate
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Depression
And those are just a few. If you notice that you’re feeling a bit “off”, you might need to take a step back and try to address the root cause of the issue.
What is stress and stress management?
Stress is basically a word that means your emotions are a bit out of whack. And that’s nothing negative on your part, either. Stress is a “feeling” that you’ll notice in times where you just can’t find focus or time to get everything done.
Stress management is basically the steps or actions that you can take and do to find ways to overcome and conquer the stress. It’s important to note that stress management doesn’t mean that its purpose is to “knock out” the stress. But, it is something that’s used to be able to find a way to take control of a stressful situation or thought.
What is “good stress”?
Can you believe that there is actually something known as “good stress” out there in the world? It’s something that is believed to possibly still be a bit stressful for someone. But it also is giving them excitement and something to look forward to as well.
This could be an upcoming promotion, a big trip, or winning an award as well. Anything that you’re proud of or excited about that could still be a bit stressful would fall into the “good stress” category.
Stress management activities to avoid stress
Get a good nights rest
Avoid eating unhealthy foods on a consistent basis
Allow yourself breaks as needed
Practice breathing techniques to help you calm down
Get up and move your body once per hour
Get a good night’s rest.
This shouldn’t come as a shock. The more rest that you can allow and give your body, the less stressed you’re going to feel. Eight hours of sleep per night would be ideal. But, even if you could accomplish a solid 7 hours, that would be great as well.
Sleeping is a great way to refuel your mind and refresh your body in a way that will keep you motivated and focused. If you’re staying up all hours of the night trying to overcome stress and get ahead of the game, you’re more than likely setting yourself up for failure and just adding more stress to your life as well.
Avoid eating unhealthy foods on a consistent basis.
This might seem like it’s a bit out of place, but it’s really not. Our bodies are what house everything that we’re composed of. So, filling it full of junk is going to cause a not-so-pleasant outcome. Fatty foods will do nothing but cause weight gain, unhappiness, and discomfort that will just pile onto your already growing feelings of stress.
Instead of eating out constantly or reaching for the fried foods, go on an eating regime that will compliment your want for less chaos and stress. Greens, fruits, and lean protein are always a great choice.
Allow yourself breaks as needed.
Sitting and working all day long isn’t good for anyone. Listen to your body when it tells you that you need and break. And, then make certain that you’re giving it one. Don’t eat your lunch at your desk because this won’t allow you to completely unplug and get away.
Physically remove yourself from your office or work station and go somewhere else during your breaks and lunch periods. You’ll be amazed at how this will clear your mind and reboot your attitude.
Practice breathing techniques to help you calm down.
Did you know that you have the tools internally to calm yourself down? Overcoming stress can be as simple as learning a few calming breathing techniques as well.
Practicing yoga or even reading online about breathing options can be a simple and great way to calm yourself down and not let the stress take over.
Get up and move your body once per hour.
Walking and moving about will get the blood flowing to your brain and keep your creativity moving. Scheduling out a walk or two per day is always a great idea but you can actually accomplish even more than that.
If you sit at a desk all day long, set a timer on your watch to get up and walk around for a few laps once per hour. Even though you might be getting up more from your desk, it will actually help to increase your productivity and focus as well.
When it comes to simple stress management activities, these tips and ideas above can help. And who knows? You just might find that once you combine them all together and give yourself time to adjust, you might be able to handle the stress a whole lot better than you ever thought possible.
Do you have any stress management activities to suggest? Here are a few tips to unwind after work.
Ellen is a serial entrepreneur who owns 9 profitable blogs, two printable stores, an online vintage jewelry business, and a variety of other work at home endeavors. She shares tips for working at home successfully.