We often hear people throwing around the word “stress” nowadays that it has been accepted as something mundane— a normal feeling people have. The problem seems to be the lowering of our tolerance to stress over time. Nowadays, we feel stressed over the things we used to simply shrug off.
The lowering of our stress tolerance is influenced by a lot of factors, and tolerance levels vary from one person to another. Regardless, we would adapt better if we know how to de-stress.
What is stress anyway and how can we deal with it?
Stress is a body’s reaction to any changes, demands, or tension that require physical, mental, or emotional responses. Stress releases chemicals that build up over time (especially if you often encounter stress), overwhelm you, and make you feel uncomfortable or “stressed”.
Being “stressed”, if not immediately dealt with, leads to more serious mental and emotional distress; that’s why it’s important to know how to deal with it.
Here are some tips on how to de-stress which you should try before you get overwhelmed:
Practice Meditation
Meditation is a mindfulness exercise that trains your mind to be present at the moment. Often times, we are occupied by regrets of the mistakes we did in the past or our worries of the future. Meditation keeps your mind off your regrets and worries and helps you focus on the present.
Write A Journal
According to Cognitive Behavioral Theory, the way we feel about the events in our life is not caused by the events themselves but by our interpretation of them. Thus, it is important to keep track of your thought processes by writing them down. You can also challenge them if they provoke negative emotions or stress you out.
