It is often hard for somebody to identify or admit that they are stressed, let alone find a way to cope with that stress. Below you will find five signs to help you identify when you are stressed and five ways to reduce that stress.
Five signs to help you identify your stress levels:
- Irritability, moodiness
- Anxious or racing thoughts
- Unable to concentrate
- Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
- Eating too much or not enough
Five ways to help you reduce your stress levels:
- Call a friend or family member. Sometimes talking to someone that may understand your issues/concerns can help you see things in a different light and put them into perspective.
- Find a hobby. Sometimes if you have an activity/hobby that you enjoy doing outside of your work/family, it can give you a break away from the rest of your world. You can focus on one thing at a time, focus on enjoying yourself.
- Unplug. If you find that social media or the news is adding to your stress, then turn it off. Uninstall all your social media apps and turn off the notifications from Stuff or The Herald. Take a break for a few hours.
- Take care of yourself. This can also work alongside you finding a hobby not just what you may put into your body. Sit down with a healthy snack and watch a movie by yourself. Go for a walk without the kids. Go to sleep at 9pm rather than 11pm. Have a sleep in. It is easier said than done I’m sure but all we are saying is try!
- Reach out for help. If you feel that your stress levels are not improving or are getting worse, don’t just ignore it. This is your brain and body telling you to stop. Reach out to a licensed therapist, it may help you more than you understand right now.
Whether you are trying to figure out if you are stressed or whether you are trying to navigate your way through your stress, keep going and stay positive. Stress affects so many people every year, hopefully by recognizing some of the signs and having a plan for how to cope with that stress you may be able to enjoy your life a little bit more. Understand though that it is normal to be stressed, it’s nothing that you are doing anything wrong, it is just your body telling you that you’re working too hard and if you don’t take a break soon you could burn out.