Stress Relief Strategies That Will Really Workout For You

Let’s face it: Life can be stressful, even on the best of days. Instead of zoning out in front of the TV, diving into that Ben & Jerry’s, or going shopping, learn about how to manage stress healthfully.

A Definition of Stress

Even if we normally identify as calm individuals, we’ve all experienced stress at some point in our lives. That said, here’s a good working definition of stress. The first step in stress-management is knowing what stress is. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with this definition, move on to the next step in the process–identifying sources of stress in your life.

Identify Sources of Stress in Your Life

The first step in effectively managing your stress is to identify what’s causing it. Help Guide provides some thoughtful questions that will help you examine what aspects of your life may be causing you turmoil.

Meditate and Breathe Deeply

You’ve likely heard quite a bit about meditation, but the fuss is well warranted: Meditation has been shown to effectively reduce stress levels in those who practice regularly. Deep breathing goes hand-in-hand with many meditation practices. Here, WebMD has more information on how to use meditation to increase calmness in your life.

Avoid Stereotypical Comfort Foods

We’ve all been there: After a long day at work or an argument with our spouse, we’ll chow down on pizza, pasta, or brownies. Avoiding these high-fat, carb-heavy comfort foods will actually reduce stress levels, however. Certain healthy foods can also increase one’s sense of well being; check out this slideshow by Kerri Glassman (MS, RD, CDN) to find out more about the best stress-fighting foods.

Practice Good Sleep Habits

The average adult needs between seven and eight hours of sleep per night–getting less than that can raise one’s stress levels. WebMD offers tips on improving one’s sleep hygiene.

Spend Time with Friends

Developing and maintaining a strong social network will ultimately lower your stress levels. During times of crisis (or even mild emotional discomfort), discussing your concerns with a trusted friend will help you reassess your situation and make more rational decisions.