Stress is an all too familiar struggle for most people. So much so, that it can easily become viewed as something we just need to learn to deal with. To get on with. To live with!

But it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, with a little thought and a commitment to regularly practicing some simple techniques, we can learn to keep a good handle on the stressors we face in life.

Now, let me be clear; there's no silver bullet that will eradicate stress from your life forever. And this is because stress is a natural response to situations your brain views as being a threat to your safety.

And this is actually a good thing, as it can serve to keep you from danger, keep you alert to making better decisions, and motivate you to make changes when needed.

However, being in a constant state of stress can become a problem you'll need to address if you want to avoid more significant health risks like high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. 

So, to relieve stress, and in doing so, minimise the risk of more health complications, here are three simple, stand-alone stress reducers that could have a significant impact on your overall stress levels.

1. Breathe well

Regulating my breathing is by far my go-to stress reliever, as it's quick, easy, and can be done anywhere. Also, depending on which breathing exercise I do, nobody would even know I'm doing it. A little stealth regulation, there! 😉

In using stress-relief breathing in the middle of a stressful situation, you can quickly alter your stress response and in doing so, change your overall experience of a stress inducing event.

A clear benefit of regulating your stress response through breath management, is that you'll be able to think clearer. This is important, as unclear thinking could result in poor decisions, leading to more stress!

2. Exercise

Along with regulating my breathing, I know firsthand that when I exercise, I feel more able to manage whatever life throws at me. In fact, ironically, when in a stressful grappling (BJJ) situation, breath regulation is my go-to!

Again, what I find is with breath control I'm able to make better decisions in the moment. Which when sparring, increases my chances of surviving the few minutes that, when really stressed, can feel like a lifetime.

Though it can't be done anytime or any place like breathing, exercise can prove to be an effective outlet or distraction. Exercise also releases endorphins, a natural high that can leave you feeling great. 

3. Actively manage stressors

An obvious, but often overlooked stress reducer, is to reduce the stress in your life. Yes, a simple and honest look at what you're juggling can be the start of your journey to manage stress more effortlessly.

For me this starts by listing everything I'm currently taking responsibility for. As an example, my list could range from putting up our daughters mirror to sourcing a video editor for my online content.

In other words, my list will include all the tasks and responsibilities that are taking up mental energy. There's no bias towards them at this stage, I'm simply acknowledging them as things occupying headspace.

The next step is the exciting bit, as this is where I'll set aside time (as little as 5-minutes) to determine whether they're essential, or if I can either delay, delegate or ditch them. This itself can be stress releasing.

Summary

There's no way of escaping it, and if left unmanaged, stress can have a detrimental effect on your overall wellbeing. Yet, learning how to navigate it can keep you safe, motivated and decisive.

And it doesn't have to be hard!

Simply by learning to recognise your stressors and consistently applying some stress-reducing practices, you can get a handle on it. And who knows, you may even be able to use it to your advantage.

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If you think you might benefit from working with a counsellor or coach, book a free Exploration Call with me to talk about what working together might look like.

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Photo credit: @elisa_ventur