Stress is something that everyone deals with. Of course, some people may deal with more of it than others, based on their job, their family situation, their lifestyle, and so forth. But for the most part, you’ll never meet someone who’s never had to deal with any stress in their life.
But there are people who know how to handle stress better than others. Certain people are just more naturally attuned to moving through stress. With that said, as Montreal psychologist Richard Lipman makes clear, others, who may not deal with stress quite so well, can follow a few simple steps to better manage it. Additionally, those who are more adept at coping with stress may be able to learn how to reduce it further.
As Richard Lipman explains, as a first step, if you’re dealing with a stressful situation and you find yourself becoming upset or angry about something, just take a breath. Assess whether the problem is really that significant, or if it’s fairly unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
Then, if you figure out that the issue is insignificant, work on letting go. “Make a conscious decision not to react,” Richard Lipman says. “It’s important to practice this process consistently.”
Next, to work your way through a stressful situation, learn to stop and breathe slowly and deeply — take a deep breath while inhaling through your nose, while counting to four, then slowly exhale from your mouth as you count to six. Do this until you feel the tension lift. If you don’t have the privacy to do it more than once, a single deep inhale and exhale will provide some relief.
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by stress, “Work on speaking more slowly than usual,” Lipman advises. This will help you think more clearly, and hopefully, the people you are speaking with will react more calmly as well. “After all,” Lipman continues, “There’s no need to escalate an already stressful situation.”
If you’re practicing handling stress, another helpful step is to make a more aware effort to manage your time better. For instance, choose just one thing that you have been putting off, like making an appointment or paying a bill that you’ve had on your to-do list for awhile, and just do it. Your stress level will go down just from handling those little tasks, and you’ll feel a lot better seeing those items crossed off the list.
It might sound obvious, but drinking lots of water and eating small, nutritious snacks are also key to managing your stress, according to psychologist Richard Lipman. Hunger or thirst can actively provoke aggressiveness and make you feel more anxious or stressed. There’s no reason to create more stress for yourself, especially when you’re trying to work on managing your stress level, when all you need to combat the issue is to eat a snack or grab a quick glass of water. Oh, and regular exercise can help a lot too.
Finally, sleeping well is critical to reducing stress. So, plan something rewarding and relaxing for the end of a stressful day. Before you go to bed, avoid going over the details of the day or worrying about the next day. The likelihood that you’ll solve all your problems at bedtime isn’t very high. They can wait to be solved at another time. You’re only human, after all, and you need time to recharge to deal with stress. Taking a bath or reading a good book can be great ways to give yourself a little self care at the end of the day while easing you into a good night’s sleep, and you deserve it.
