Do you often feel overwhelmed by work, family issues or health problems?
Believe it or not, over 8 million Americans suffer from serious psychological stress. This can lead to other stress-related illnesses, such as hypertension and elevated blood sugar levels.
To help you out, let’s look at 6 creative ways you can cope with daily stress.
1. Read a fantasy book
If you’re in a situation that seems inescapable at the moment, why not use the power of fantasy to get away from your daily burdens?
Many fantasy books have the power of showing us beautiful, unimaginable worlds and creatures. But they also contain characters that show unexpected resilience and inner strength, traits that inspire many of us.
2. Take a walk
Taking a walk not only relieves stress by helping your body soak up Vitamin D from the sun or get much-needed exercise, but it has another function as well: it keeps you away from unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as binge eating, smoking, etc.
3. Watch your favorite TV show or series
If you have the time, why not watch one of your favorite tv shows or series?
It can relax you, and who knows, maybe the plotline will offer a new perspective on how you can look at your current situation.
4. Clean your room
For some people, cleaning, especially with music in the background, is quite relaxing. Plus, you get a mild exercise session out of it, not to mention the fact that you’ll be proud of how clean and neat your place looks after you finish!
5. Share your thoughts with others
It could a friend, family, or your partner.
Even if you don’t have someone you trust at the moment, you can still find someone willing to listen to your sorrows, especially if you have an internet connection.
Free services such as Talk With a Stranger are a great way to have a conversation while staying anonymous.
6. Don’t acknowledge every negative thought that passes through your mind
Mindfulness a practice that teaches you how to passively observe your inner critic without getting trapped in a cycle of going back into the past and reliving traumatic situations or anticipating a grey future.
Chronic stress can lead to many life-threatening diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
If you feel like every day is more of a burden, and that finding enjoyment seems like an impossible task, perhaps you could use some help from a specialist who can teach you how to eliminate the stress from its roots.