Managing stress

In this fast-paced environment, one is preoccupied with so many works to accomplish.  Young professionals spend almost 24 hours of their time on their job. With the loads of paper work to submit and numerous deadlines to beat, students even forget that effective learning is best acquired if both your mind and body are in sound condition.  Even those who just stay at home are not exempted from experiencing stress and pressure brought about by the demands of this fast-paced environment.

According to studies, stress is the emotional and physical strain caused by our response to pressure from the outside world. Common stress reactions include tension, irritability, inability to concentrate, and a variety of physical symptoms that include headache and a fast heartbeat.  However stress can either be good or bad.

More often than not, stress is associated with unpleasant events or situations.  We feel stressed due to hectic schedules, family brawl or just a simple quarrel with friends – that is bad stress.  Nonetheless, stress can also be experienced with good or happy events especially when it involves a change of the habitual  life that you are into, such as weddings, pregnancy or just a mere transferring to a new house.  Another instance of experiencing good stress is having butterflies in the stomach whenever your about to do a presentation.  This kind of stress will enable you to perform well since the anxiety drives you to prepare more so that you will not fail.

However, as much as we want to do away with stress, it seems that stress is becoming a lifetime partner in our routine.  Because of this disheartening and stressful fact, we can only learn to control our response to those situations and develop techniques that will reduce the effects of stress in our mental, emotional and physical health.

Here are five tips to deal and manage stress with fun and without even spending a single centavo.

Loosen up

If you were already burdened with the strenuous activities that you do, STOP for a while and relax your system.  Remember that your body is not a robot and it cannot endure all the tiresome activities that you go through. Spend some time to sit in your porch with a cup of coffee and let your self and thoughts wander.  In that way, you can escape from thinking about your pending works.

Sing your blues away

Music alleviates ones soul.  It certainly does.  Try listening to soothing ballad songs when you feel stressed.  The music has a tendency to relax your mind and free you from stress.  It can replace a comforting mood into your aura which will make you feel relaxed and calm.

Chit chat

Sometimes, when you feel stressed, you think that you are alone. This could add up to your boredom.  It is nice to talk with a friend and share a little laughter with him/her over a cup of coffee or tea.  This will make you forget your arduous loads of work.  However, be sure not to talk about mind-boggling topics. And of course, do not gossip.

Think of pleasant things

Daydreaming could be healthy. You can pause and spend your time daydreaming.  You can daydream about your dream house, dream place, or even your dream partner.  Nevertheless, be sure to take things moderately, because these might lead you to frustration.  You can daydream and at the same time be in touch with reality.

Always smile

Smiling is the best and ultimate weapon to relieve stress.  Learn to smile at everything that you encounter.  Having a positive and optimistic outlook in life may result to reaping a rewarding and pleasant outcome to whatever you do.  As what Paolo Coellho said in his book, “the universe conspires with what you do”. If that is the case, one should learn to inculcate optimism in every endeavour.

Young as we are, we should learn how to be flexible and be able to fit in this fast-paced and technologically equipped era.  Yet, in all our undertakings, we should also realize that we are humans, who need enough rest to tolerate these worldly challenges.