11 Healthy Ways to Ease Your Stress

Jan 05, 2021 · 4

Peace, tranquility, and relaxation are desirable to anyone. Unfortunately, this doesn't come easily to everyone, especially older adults and those with anxiety disorders. A day gone wrong may sometimes disturb the whole week or even longer. As such, it is critical to learn healthy ways to ease stress.

Regardless of the causes of stress, these tips will enable you to live a more stress-free life. Let's start:

Manage Your Stress with These 11 Tactics

Set Realistic and Attainable Goals

Targeting a specific goal has been shown to enhance one's chances of success in life. However, the challenge comes with setting up realistic goals. When you target what is beyond your capability, stress and frustration come quickly as things don't turn out as you anticipated.

Instead, target what you can realistically attain. If you are having difficulties doing this, click here to learn more about setting SMART goals.
Perform Breathing Exercises

Breathing is a powerful means of relaxation and easing stress. Deep breathing exercises combined with meditation can help you achieve greater focus and clear stressful thoughts and negative feelings from your mind.

First, choose a strategic location where you can sit comfortably and away from distractions. Ensure your back posture is straight as you breathe in and out steadily. To increase effectiveness, inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.

Click here to learn more about the connection of breathing to good health!
Speak with Trusted Family/Friends

Sometimes it is very helpful to connect with trusted friends and family. This is among the best ways of dealing with stress. Take this time to share what's bothering you in heartfelt conversations. By bonding with your loved ones, stress and anxiety may diminish. At the same time, your mood and spirit will be uplifted. Ensure anyone you are bonding with accepts you as you are for this to work.
Watch Your Diet

A proper diet makes dealing with stress in retirement easier. But which foods should you include?

Fruits and vegetables rich in fiber have a significant and positive impact on stress levels. So do foods with lean protein and whole grains like oats. Meanwhile, avoid unhealthy fats and starches and reduce sugar intake.
Exercise Regularly

Exercising has a great impact on stress reduction. However, you don't have to do strenuous exercises daily for this to work. Simple exercises like swimming or going for a walk, among others, are enough to relax your mind and ease stress. Additionally, you can try yoga to improve mindfulness, ease stress, and enhance mental focus.
Venture Outside

Staying confined in one place can increase stress levels. As such, you need to venture outside and explore what nature has to offer. Being out in nature reduces cognitive fatigue and stress. You can choose to walk around the park or neighborhood or relax in your yard.
Adopt a Pet

Do you have a pet? If not, perhaps it is time to get one. Pets are excellent companions that give unconditional love as well as affection. When you own a pet, the love and responsibility take your mind off other situations that may be causing stress.

Pets provide entertainment, as well as companionship to combat the dangers of loneliness, boredom, and isolation. If owning a pet is not possible for you, you can volunteer for pet therapy or volunteer in an animal shelter. You will be intrigued by the positive mental impact these pets can instill in you.

Are you considering adopting a pet? Click here to learn more about whether it is right for you, and which dog breeds are best for older adults!
Write Your Stresses Out

If you don't want to share with somebody what's stressing you, then write it down. You can picture what's worrying you on paper and figure out a solution more easily than by keeping it in your mind. You can restore control over your mind and end the steady cycle of stress and anxiety. Experts also recommend getting a journal you can use for this purpose.
Treat Insomnia

Sleep is vital in order to properly process stress. If you have Insomnia, you risk anxiety and depression setting in. As such, older adults should maintain a sleeping schedule that ensures they get enough sleep every night. If needed, ask your medical professional about medications to help you sleep better.

Learn more about sleep with the following articles:
Seek Professional Help

If you don't notice any positive changes or can't ease the stress on your own, seek professional help. You can get in touch with a counseling expert or mental health expert to help you ease your stress.
Maintain the Social Circle

Growing older comes with various challenges, and losing the social circle is among them. Age aside, there is always something or a situation in life that causes one's social circle to break. Many find this change to be stressful, especially if the people they are losing are close friends.

The cause can be illness, career change, retirement, or moving to another region. You can handle this by making new friends or spending more time with friends and family around you. Attend celebration events that involve your loved ones and friends and cherish the great moments you have with these people.