Sometimes we get thrown a curveball due to life's situations or the people in our lives. We become stressed to the point that worry sets in or we begin to form physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, or just don't feel like doing anything. I admit that I have fallen to the latter. When stress built up, all I wanted to do was hide under the covers. But doing this does nothing to change or solve the situation except to delay it. So below I have listed some of the things that have helped me to reduce stress and some of the positive outcomes that came from it.
Prayer - There was a point in time where I was laid off. I had never been laid off, fired, demoted, or anything of the sort and I was devastated. How was I going to support myself? What about health benefits? Worry clouded my mind initially, but when I stopped and thought about the fact that I still had a roof over my head, food to eat, and clothes on my back I knew that I was still being protected. Turning to God through prayer was a good experience. It helped to build my faith which caused my stress to lessen. Within 3 months I was back on my feet making more than I ever made in the job where I had been laid off.
Change My Thinking - This referred to stinking thinking. If I stress or worry about something, it's not too long before negative thoughts creep in. Remember what I mentioned above about crawling under the covers? Well, stinking thinking often played a role in my behavior. To combat this, I reflected on times when things had been bad and how I made it through. This provided encouragement, but I needed motivation. Thinking about just lying there causing the problem to hang around that much longer gave me the boost to get my butt up and do something. And in some situations this was enough to get the stress from that monkey off my back because there was action towards a solution.
Massage - Sometimes just having someone to knead your muscles can be all the stress reliever that is needed. If I've had a hard week at work or overworked myself in some other capacity, I'll go for a massage or mani/pedi. The pampering makes me feel good and helps me to relax.
Meditation - I've only done this a few times, but it was helpful. Playing relaxing music while stretching out on the floor gave me the opportunity to shake the blues of the day and just take a moment to find peace and tranquility.
Hang Out with Friends - A good laugh, like a smile, can turn a frown upside down. Having a good time with friends help relieve stress. Plus friends can provide a support and insight on the issues that you may face. I love to go to comedy shows or at least watch something funny on tv with hubby or my close buddies. There have been times that whatever was bothering me was dissolved to the point where I forgot what it was after a night with my folks.
These are just a few examples of how to reduce stress to achieve peace and happiness. This is not all inclusive. What are some things that you do to relieve stress?
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