No doubt, we all encounter certain days when hard circumstances require us to either cave under the pressure or find ways to cope!
Below are a few tips that might help you when days become a little stressful.
Get Outdoors
I enjoy walking. For you, it may be jogging or riding your bike. Regardless of the mode you choose, being outdoors is good for the soul. It’s also healthful! In fact, “Exercise leads to an increase in natural killer cells, neutrophils, and monocytes, which ultimately increases immune function,” says Ather Ali, assistant director of Complementary/Alternative Medicine Research at the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center. So find an activity you enjoy, and try your best to do it outside in God’s creation.
Stay Hydrated
Sounds too easy to be true, but it’s a fact that water gives us energy. That’s just one benefit of drinking more H2O. Clearly, it rids our bodies of toxins (and we all could use that these days)! Also, studies have shown that dehydration leads to higher cortisol levels—the stress hormone—making it harder to deal with everyday issues. By staying hydrated, we are better equipped to deal with the taxing days and weeks that are before us.
Find Relaxation
The ability to relax comes in many forms for different people:
- Exercising in short spurts, such as making one loop around your block or neighborhood. Or, use some free weights to do a few arm curls each day if you need to stay close to your computer or desk for work.
- Cooking or baking. This could be as simple as a snack or a bit more involved for mealtimes. There are a lot of great recipes online for easy-to-make meals if you’re not used to cooking at home.
- Reading is a favorite for many, as it helps transport our thoughts and emotions to other places. I enjoy reading the Psalms before bedtime. In many cases, the authors of these chapters pour out their concerns and praise to the Lord for what they’re experiencing. I know I can do the same at any time of day or night, especially during highly stressful times.
- Cleansing. I love taking a long, hot soak in our bathtub at the end of the day. The warm water relaxes my mind and muscles, which get tensed over time. But a quick shower may be the thing that helps revive your spirit after a day of dealing with changes in your routine. Whatever works for you—do it!
Get Sleep
Adequate rest is good for us in several ways. For one, it helps us deal with stressful situations we’ve encountered throughout the day. Sleep provides rejuvenation by relaxing our minds for an extended period of time. It’s even been shown to support our immune system in fighting off illness.
Be Selective
It’s good to be informed but not so good to saturate ourselves with gloom and doom all day.
I have to be intentional about turning off the news and social media saturation that can easily pull my spirits down. Instead, I’ve learned to select ways to filter it out, such as listening to music or watching TV programs that are not interrupted by worrisome news reports. I’m also looking for opportunities to be helpful and positive in creative ways toward others.
Be encouraged—difficult days don’t last forever. They’re usually just for a season. Eventually, you’ll be back to your normal routine.
In the meantime, try to discover some simple, relaxing activities that will help you combat feelings of stress, depression, and fearfulness by replacing them with a more positive outlook.