To manage stress it is important to know that it is inevitable that stress will always be a part of your life. It is in fact important for us to go through stress even if we think it isn’t worth our time.

I use a few techniques to manage stress depending on the severity of it. Usually my stresses are medium to low on the scale but if I ever come into a high stress situation I manage it well.

There are physical stresses and mental stresses. Not so surprisingly, if you can manage mental stresses well then physical stresses become easier to manage. It is also important to note that managing stress is an ongoing process and it never stops. Feel free to use any and all of the following techniques:

• Exercise everyday
  • This helps manage the physical stresses our bodies can tolerate. It is good to help you let off steam after long days of work. Weight training in particular helps bones get stronger, builds muscle and calluses your body into being able to tolerate physical pain by building strength.
• Diet
  • A good diet ensures that your body is equipped to handle the daily stresses of life. If you are lacking in nutrition then your body will find it difficult to handle stress. It is also important to stay hydrated to manage the inner workings of the body such as heart rate and temperature management.
• Starvation/Fasting
  • This technique is something I find many people struggle with. The reasoning behind this is to prepare your mind and body for incidents where you could have to go without food or water for prolonged periods of time. There are benefits to this such as autophagy where the dead cells inside the body are absorbed and repurposed as the body adapts in starvation mode. Doing this once a week is enough.
• Mindfulness
  • I recommend doing this because it increases focus. If you are working on something that requires your full attention then you cannot be distracted by external forces. Such distractions can cause stresses and it really can affect your work. Bomb disposal experts are known to practice mindfulness on a regular basis because their lives are under risk when dealing with dangerous devices. They handle the pressure by focusing on the task at hand. Mindfulness also brings about an appreciation and gratefulness for the world around you.
• Maintain Situational Awareness
  • Being aware of your surroundings and being alert especially when outdoors is a great practice to manage stress. It gives you an initial idea of what is about to happen and gives you an opportunity to find a solution before the problem occurs. Reading the room in a social gathering is one such situation. Another example where this applies is when driving. You could avoid traffic or worse if you avoid using your cellphones.
• Meditation
  • It is a tool to help you increase the ability to face adversities. When you meditate correctly there is an increase in gamma wave activity in your brains. Gamma waves are associated with high level concentration, problem-solving, learning, working memory and Eureka moments. There have been studies on monks who meditate regularly and the state of their brains is actively within the gamma wave frequency. Meaning they are prepared to face any adversity and are capable of doing so without hesitation. If you aren’t able to meditate then practicing a hobby such as painting or woodwork that requires you to be creative is an excellent alternative to meditation.
• Sensory Grounding
  • When under stress the body can feel like its floating or fleeting. In those moments it is important to hold or touch something real. This helps the brain know you are in the real world and you snap out of the illusion that stress clouds over you.
• Music
  • This is something plenty of people do and it is a great way to deal with stress in your free time. It helps disconnect from the world outside your personal space and shift your mood towards positivity. Reading also does the same thing.
• Movement
  • This is for those spontaneous unexpected stresses that we face on ocassion. All you need to do is walk. The body sometimes demands it such as by shaking your legs. You have to acknowledge the cues and go for a short walk. It diffuses the situation and provides a wider perspective to the problem at hand.
• Deep Breathing
  • You can forget to breathe under stress. Some people pass out because of it. The 4-2-5 rule of breathing where you breathe in for 4 seconds, hold it for 2 seconds and breathe out for 5 seconds is a great exercise to relieve stress and deal with the problem at hand.
• Declutter your life
  • If you don’t organise your life then it becomes more likely that you deal with unexpected stresses. Part of maturing is to figure out a way to settle down. You can set up a plan for your finances, organise you living space, prepare your food for the week, keep your work space and personal spaces clean and have a proper routine. These are examples of organising your life so you can find the time to relax.
• Set boundaries
  • It is important to be able to say “No” in life. Many people find it hard to say “No” and end up stretching themselves beyond their capabilities. If you can’t handle it then say no. There is no obligation to say yes.
• Connect with people
  • Social interactions are important to manage stress. They bring about ways to share and express feelings as we are emotional creatures. Sometimes they also bring solutions to the problems that are stressing you. A hug is known to bring down blood pressure to normal levels. Even a phone call from a loved one is enough on ocassion.
• Time
  • There are situations where no matter what you do stress gets to you. It is inevitable. In such cases it is better to allow time to pass. Times change constantly and sometimes they change for the better. Having a positive outlook pushes time in that direction.

Hope these help. Cheers!