5 Easy Ways to Manage Stress

Stress is an inevitable part of each and every one of our lives. Stress can be healthy or unhealthy depending on the amount, the duration of the stressor, and the frequency of the stress. Stress can help us grow in difficult times and help us learn how to problem solve, but with too much we can dwindle into unhealthy behaviors or even illness.

Our therapists give their 5 favorite ways to manage their everyday stressors to maintain a balance of mental clarity and challenge.

1) Unplug

When stress is present, added stimuli can impact you to a further degree. Smart phones now have “do not disturb” options to help block the distraction of incoming calls, texts, or emails. Skip a night of watching Netflix and pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read the last few months. Our minds are constantly stimulated by the lights and colors that screens emit and in times of stress, the packs on more information to our brains to process, therefore creating more stress in the mind and even body. Our therapists encourage to take a screen free day once a month to reset your nervous system.

2) Move

Exercise is key to shaking off stress on a day-to-day basis. You don’t have to hit the gym for an hour to get some stress relief- set a timer for 10 minutes and stretch. Take a walk with your dog after dinner instead of letting them play in your fenced yard while you scroll on TikTok. Tackle that yard work you’ve been putting off. There are so many ways to be creative with movement that feels resonate to you and fruitful to you.

3) Nourish

Skip the DoorDash and head to the nearest grocery store to stock up on healthy and wholesome ingredients to prepare a few meals that are simple and nourishing. Your body can battle stress with effective energy from the fuel you feed it! Carve out the time to shop for ingredients that are supportive to your physical body and energy. This can be something fun to do with your family of partner, shop altogether for the ingredients and cook a meal at home as a team. (Your wallet will thank you too!). Bonus points if you use a cookbook for your recipe and not your phone or laptop!

4) Schedule breaks

It is easy to pack as much as we can into the day to feel productive and get things done. This builds our stress levels and can lead to mental burnout and exhaustion. Schedule several small breaks through your day to rest, snack, maybe even read a magazine. One of our therapist’s favorite break time activities is breath work. This gives your mind a break from the constant “go go go” and reconnects you with how you are feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally.

5) Reevaluate time management

When you are feeling overwhelmed and overstressed, take some time to reevaluate your time management. Set timers, make a to-do list, prioritize urgent tasks, and let the little ones go for now. Break out that hard copy calendar. Use this time to get organized! An organized environment helps to foster an organized mind. When your time is managed and you can create a schedule that feels balanced, your mental load will start to shift into more of a peaceful place, leaving you feeling calmer and less scattered.

If you feel you’ve fallen into a sea of stress, you CAN make your way out of that cycle with time and support. Do you feel stuck and need some extra help? We are here to help. Email us at hello@serenemindpsych.com or give us a call at 813.321.8280 to set up an intake appointment to see if one of our therapists can aid you in your healing journey.