Take a Deep Breath – My 5 Tips for Dealing with Stress

Starting my new job has been amazing and I feel so fortunate to have a job that I love already. But it has been a rather big life adjustment for me to process (not that I’m complaining!) and it hasn’t been without it’s stresses.

I am not going to lie I get stressed out VERY easily. So to combat this I’ve learnt to look after myself and address the issue and try to determine what helps me to relax and calm me down when I’m feeling this way. I still have a long way to come, I haven’t found the answer just yet but I’m definitely on the road to getting there.

Now everyone deals with stress in different ways, I totally get that, in the past I’ve tried to ignore it and just carry on but I quickly realised this doesn’t work. Instead you need to address the stress and work out what life changes you can make to get you back feeling on top.

Here are my tips that I’ve started to build upon…

• Exercise

I think I’ve discussed this before but I find exercise such an amazing cure for so many things. Now my knee is finally on the mend and a whole lot better I’ve been able to get back into the gym. I can’t explain how much this has helped me. I love exercise, trust me I don’t always want to go, especially when I’m sat on the train on the way home from work. But once I’ve gotten there, gotten in the zone and got my workout done I always feel 100 x better. We all know my now exercise helps to realise endorphins which is why it makes us feel great but I also find it helps me to get out my head sometimes…although cardio can sometimes do the opposite as I’m sure some of you know. If you don’t want to go alone, go with friends or your other half and socialise at the same time. Putting a date into your diary with other people also means you haaaave to drag your bum into that gym. It doesn’t have to be a gym either, go outside, get some fresh air and go for a walk! I do every morning on the way to work and it sets me up for my day like you would not believe

• Sleep

Now I will be the first to admit I’m sooooo bad at this. I am the worst at going to bed early! But I know I always feel ready to tackle the day and all it brings after an early night. Let’s face it, sleep is good for us. To put it simply, deep sleep (also known as REM) is when our mind processes everything from the day and works out memories, emotions and best of all stress.

I know when your stressed sleep seems like the hardest thing to do, you can probably think of 20 things you need to get done before you can go to bed. But don’t, just stop and relax. You’ll probably get those jobs done a lot quicker and better once you’ve had a good nights sleep.

I personally like to get into bed, light some candles and put on a rain sound on an app on my phone (I know I’m a saddo) and relax until I drift off.

• Socialising

Sometimes when life feels mega busy and stressful it can be hard to juggle a social life. But it is so important to make sure you find the time to see your family and friends. It’s far too easy to shut yourself away when you’re stressed out but it won’t do you any good. I can guarantee you will feel like a weight has been lifted once you’ve been able to talk things through with someone who’s close to you. I have to say though, don’t feel guilty if you’re sometimes to busy to see your friends, if they are a true friend they will understand.

• Eating Right

As much as I hate to admit it as a self confessed sugar addict, eating right in the long run makes you feel much more energised. It helps you to feel rejuvenated both mentally and physically. Don’t get me wrong I’ll still be getting my daily dose of chocolate, but it’s all about balance. Eating a ton of rubbish and binging when you’re feeling a bit crappy might feel great as you’re doing it but eventually it will only make you feel tired, sluggish and down in the dumps. Something I have definitely struggled with for years and am now trying to learn to balance my eating.

• Downtime

Like I mentioned earlier making time to see your friends and family is so important. I know it is a massive part of what keeps me sane. But taking some ‘me time’ can really help. To have some space to breathe. Some time to be selfish, think about yourself, reflect upon things and most importantly do what you want to do. Whether it’s binge watching some Netflix, reading a book with a cup of tea or a bit of shopping just do something for you.

It’s definetely not an easy road but with a few simple practises set into place it can definitely take a weight off.