5 Tips for Managing Stress
Some ways to keep the stress at bay
Stress management is a life skill that many of us need to be proficient at in order to overcome hardship and most importantly, to allow us to grow. With the amount of curveballs life throws at us, there are times when we must consider our self-care regimen, go back to the drawing board and regroup. With the pandemic still ongoing, we have certainly had our limits tested and were forced to learn to adapt. In our efforts to adapt to this new reality, many of us have had to either find new coping mechanisms or to pivot gears. Stress management is a part of the learning process as we learn more about ourselves.
Know who you are
Stress management is a personal exercise which involves a lot of deep diving into our personalities and our psyche. The key to managing stress is to understand our stressors and how we can manage our stress, since everyone reacts differently under pressure. Are you someone who can keep calm and carry on? Or are you someone who cracks under pressure? Sometimes stress is induced externally beyond our carrying capacity, especially when things are out of our control. Acknowledging how it interacts within us is the first step. Here are some ground rules that are universal to everyone when it comes to stress management:
Setting boundaries
One of the most important things about managing stress is to not bring unnecessary stress to yourself and that is why it is important to set boundaries. Know your capabilities and learn how to say no without actually saying no. Also, know what you are accountable for so there are no surprises when things slip through the cracks. If it’s not your problem, don’t make it your problem. Don’t take on too much on your plate as well!
Letting go
Stress is everywhere - it can show up in so many various facets of life. We have to learn to stay present and let go of things, even if there is no immediate solution. If there’s nothing that can be done and the solution is beyond your means, there is no point agonizing over it. All it takes is a bit of perspective; sometimes knowing that there is bigger fish to fry allows us to prioritize and take things one day at a time.
Staying true to yourself
Managing your stress means keeping it under control and not letting it snowball or bleed into other aspects of our lives. Knowing who we are and where we draw the line for our mental health plays a huge role in managing stress. For example, if you are someone who values family, don’t skip a birthday because you have to work overtime. There are times when we will need to make exceptions, however those moments should be few and far in between.
2. Lean on your support system
Managing stress can be overwhelming as it can often feel difficult to know where to start. A wonderful resource is to delegate or seek emotional support from your friends and family. Knowing when to reach out to your support system can work wonders for our stress levels. Having the courage to ask for help is vital when we are spread out too thin. While it is not necessarily the easiest move, try to put aside any concerns of the ego when it comes to requesting for help. Reaching out to our support networks or even seeking professional help reinforces your foundation. There is nothing embarrassing about verbalizing the word “help”.
3. Experiment with CBD at different times of the day
As cannabidiol, aka CBD, has no psychoactive effects, this is the perfect compound to experiment with at various times of the day. Many studies, like this one, have proven CBD is highly effective in treating stress and anxiety disorders. If you find you hold much of your stress and anxiety into your sleep state, it may be helpful to try a CBD dominant oil right before bed. If you’re feeling a bit more anxiety throughout the day, maybe some CBD oil in your morning smoothie or midday tea works better for you. Either way, whatever time works for you is completely dependent on your needs and lifestyle. Try different things, take notes on how you feel, find the right dose and build it into your routine. Combining CBD into your regular practice of meditation or exercise can also yield great results in staying level headed. As always, consider speaking to a doctor regarding dosing CBD for medical reasons.
4. Keep your Chin Up
The worst thing you can do when you’re stressed is to lament in despair. Part of managing stress is inevitably preparing for the worst while simultaneously hoping for the best, regardless of what the final outcome may be. There are perks to looking at the glass half full - flipping your paradigm is a powerful tool. As they say, attitude is everything key to perseverance. Even if things don’t ultimately go our way, having a positive outlook is a sustainable solution.
5. Try Journaling
Journaling is proven as an effective method for decreasing overall stress. By doing so, we acknowledge our busy minds and blow some steam simultaneously. Check out our blog on how to journal.
We hope these 5 tips will help guide you into finding some balance within stress management. Prioritizing self-care will consistently remain a priority we cannot STRESS enough (just kidding).
