Do you feel as though your stress levels are higher, even though most of us have been social distancing at home? Research has found that stress levels are higher for employees during the pandemic1. In this blog, we’ll look into ways you can help manage your stress levels.
Exercise
Seems simple enough right? When you’re stressed, you may feel as though you have less energy and your concentration levels have dropped. Once you do some exercise, it can help relieve tension, anxiety and anger. As you are focusing more on your body rather than your mind, it can help take your mind off of any worries you have2.
Exercise leads your body to better use oxygen and improve blood flow. Your brain also produces more endorphins, which can create a sense of euphoria and well-being. Almost any exercise can be helpful, from doing a few laps in the pool, to jogging, swimming, dancing or working with resistance bands2.
Eating Healthy
When you’re stressed, it can increase blood sugar, raise your blood sugar levels and increase your heartbeat. A healthy diet can help stabilise your blood sugar levels. To do this, you can3:
Social Time (Virtual)
It might be difficult to meet with friends at the moment, but being able to communicate with friends can help reduce stress. Have a online group video chat, play games or just share stories, and let the laughter flow. Similar to exercise, laughter can also release endorphins4. If you’re feeling stressed, being able to chat with your friends online can help you alleviate some of the stress.
Relaxation Techniques
There are a few relaxation techniques which you can use5:
Other options for relation include yoga and tai chi, which can be considered as a form of exercise.
Positive Self-Talk
Do you talk to yourself? Honestly, it’s more common than you think! If you’re being negative, it can increase your stress levels. Being positive can calm you down and control your stress levels. How can you talk positively to yourself? It’s shifting your thoughts from ‘I cannot do this’ to ‘I’ll give it my best shot because I know I can do this’. Or from ‘why is everything so wrong’ to ‘I can do this by taking one step at a time’6.
The above are just a few of the ways you can manage stress. Let us know if you have other techniques you use to help manage stress!
