3 Ways To Manage Stress Naturally

3 Ways To Manage Stress Naturally

Many of us are looking for help with stress and anxiety at this time of year. And so for todays post we’re exploring 3 Ways To Help You Manage Stress Naturally, by making lifestyle changes, shifting your perspective and becoming more mindful of your thinking habits.

Some of the ideas we’re going to cover together here might be familiar to you already. But I think most of us can benefit from a little reminder from time to time. After all, life can be so hectic and it’s easy to forget those positive tools we already know about, and that can make all the difference to our wellbeing.

3 Ways To Manage Stress Naturally

1. Lifestyle Changes

Are there things you can change about your life situation so that you feel less stressed?

Maybe a change in work, location, relationship, hobbies or education? It might sound obvious to suggest, but If something isn’t working why not make a change and try something new?

Although…

2. Thinking

Perhaps you can’t change your life situation right now, after all not everything is under your control and life is quite a mystery isn’t it? But perhaps you could change how you think about things and learn how to be less of a stressful thinker? 

Here are some common stressful thinking patterns (sometimes called cognitive distortions) that contribute to stress:

•All or nothing, absolute or black and white thinking. 

•Jumping to conclusions

•Over generalising 

•Catastrophising 

Sometimes if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Or feel less stressful and more manageable.

Mindfulness and other cognitive therapies such as CBT are great sources of support here. Meditation helps with cognitive distortion, but also gives a sense of being connected to something larger than yourself which is also helpful for managing stress. 

3. Body

Stress and it’s related hormones can build up in our bodies lingering on as tension, aches, pains and that sort of thing. In fact In the United Kingdom in 2019, over 8.6 million appointments were due to stress related chest pains. 

The body keeps the score and so it’s helpful not only to follow a healthy lifestyle (sleep, healthy whole foods, physical activity) but also to help your body let go of any built up stress or tension. 

For example:

– Taking up a regular session of yoga, running, pilates or dance. 

– Breathing activities, aromatherapy, sounding (or singing), sound baths, acupuncture and massage.

I address all 3 stress corners in my book Inhale. Exhale. Repeat  and I would love to share them with you. Order a copy online today – here.

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