Karine Laudort 
Stress is difficult. Everyone deals with it but yet it is still quite a taboo subject. With many individuals’ stress overpowering their day-to-day lives, it can be hard to find ways to stop stress from conquering you. But don’t worry, we have got some great ideas to help with that; Let’s stop letting stress get the better of us.
1. Do activities you enjoy
This can seem quite silly but doing things that you love helps boost your mood and can take your mind off matters that are stressful. Maybe you enjoy going for walks or partaking in your favourite sport? Perhaps you like to do something more creative like draw or paint? Either way, finding activities that you like and enjoy are a great way to release tension and boost your mood. Especially if the hobby is active, you can be sure to feel amazing after.
2. Reduce the time you spend on electronic devices
Spending time on devices can be inevitable in this day and age where most of us work and maintain our social lives on our phones and laptops. However, when spending too much time on our devices, can really take a toll on our mental capability and it can cause higher levels of stress and anxiety. Not only that but when submerged into the ‘reality’ of social media (which isn’t real at all), you can become addicted to it and it can cause low self-esteem. So if you just cut back the time you spend on your phone, you will be one step closer to feeling so much better within yourself.
3. Grounding techniques
Not many people know of this technique, despite it being used on earth for hundreds of years. Grounding, also known as ‘earthing’, is the practice of doing activities that use electrical energy to reconnect you to the earth. Some of these activities may include walking barefoot or laying on the ground. Now, you are probably thinking this is the last thing you’d want to do, but the benefits of grounding are definitely something that should convince you to walk barefoot more often.
By re-connecting with the earth, not only can it reduce stress but it can also help you have better sleep and increase your energy levels. Despite the fact that grounding has very little research around it, many people have practised this technique and have seen an improved mood, an increase in blood flow and a much better sense of self, and wellbeing. Next time you see an open field, try this technique out and you will thank me later!
4. Eat a balanced diet
Have you ever heard the saying “You are what you eat?” Well, it is actually proven that excessively eating junk foods is linked to anxiety and depression. Now that isn’t me saying you cannot indulge in your favourite foods every now and then, but cutting down the McDonald’s, snacking and processed foods could really change your well-being for the better.
Change the way you think about food; Switch out the burger and instead eat some organic fruits and vegetables. Your mind and body will thank you for it!
5. Spend time with people you love
People who tend to have higher levels of stress usually isolate themselves from loved ones whether they are friends, family or close colleagues. Spending time with people you cherish is a great way to increase your sense of belonging. When distancing yourself from friends and family, it can make you feel like you have nowhere to go or be vulnerable, therefore leaving you feeling even more stressed and lonely.
To feel a lot better within yourself, meet up with a friend with whom you enjoy their company and notice how much tension is released from the body.
6. Maintain a good sleep routine
Sleep is the body’s way of recharging, which is one of the reasons why we may feel so refreshed after waking up. However, if you don’t have a good sleep schedule, you will be more prone to depression, reduced energy and concentration. It is recommended that you should have 7-9 hours of sleep each night, so if you are having higher levels of stress, perhaps you should grab some rest a little bit earlier each night to improve how you feel each day.
If you struggle to get to sleep, then maybe invest in a good pillow spray or a scented candle. Aromatherapy can help extraordinarily when it comes to sleep and relaxation!
I know it can be hard when we are inundated with work, family and social commitments, and the everyday stresses of life. Trust me when I say it happens to the best of us. Despite this, I am certain you’ll be able to feel a lot better within yourself when you go over these 6 steps on how you can combat stress. I’d love to hear if you have tried any of these techniques! Let me know in the comments and tell me how it went!
If you want to find out more about stress and how to tackle it, click here to visit one of our previous blogs on the topic.
About the Author
Great article and probably the reminder that many of us needed to slow down and look after ourselves better. Thank you for these compact but helpful points.
Thank you very much for your feedback and for taking time to read this blog. Xx