April is Stress Awareness Month. While most of us are already well aware of the stress present in our lives, we may not realize how much stress affects our physical health and overall well-being. Stress can cause headaches, muscle pain, stomach aches, and may even cause your immune system to work less efficiently.
As you take steps to lower your stress and improve your well-being, you’ll need to be careful to avoid some common stumbling blocks. Read the points below to learn what actions to take and how to avoid setbacks.
How to Manage Stress
Reach out
Maintaining social relationships is vital to living a happy life and managing stress. Studies have shown that maintaining strong relationships can lengthen life, boost immunity and reduce the risk of depression.
Make sure your expectations are realistic
You can avoid stress and anxiety by setting achievable goals. When you try to tackle too much, you end up feeling overwhelmed.
Get moving
An active lifestyle can have many positive benefits in your life—better posture and balance, healthy weight, improved mood, stronger muscles and bones, increased energy and reduced stress.
Not sure where to start? Start slow and try these tips.
- Choose activities you enjoy.
- Limit your ‘screen time.’ Turn off the electronics.
- Walk whenever you can. Choose stairs over the elevator. Park in the furthest spot in the parking lot. When watching TV, walk during commercials. It all adds up.
- Take time to participate in activities as a family, such as cycling or hiking.
- Make it social and invite a friend.
The Don'ts of Stress Management
Don't compare yourself to others
This is easier said than done. When you see your friend pull up in a shiny new car, it’s natural to compare it to your own well-worn grocery getter. Instead, make a conscious effort to stop yourself.
Comparing your car, home or even your family will leave you feeling dissatisfied. Instead of thinking about what others have, remind yourself of the positive things in your own life. This can be hard, especially for competitive people (you know who you are) but it’s worth it.
Don't procrastinate
Anxiety or nervousness is a huge obstacle to happiness. By taking the time to adequately prepare for the day or week ahead, you can help eliminate stress. Anxiety typically comes when we don’t feel ready to tackle the challenge in front of us. So, to get and stay happy, make sure not to procrastinate.
Don't sweat the small stuff
Are you a worrier? If so, it’s probably adding unnecessary stress to your life. When you focus on what could go wrong, you’re not allowing yourself to appreciate what’s going right. It’s especially important not to waste your emotional energy on small things that are out of your control. So when you hit that third red light in a row, just take a deep breath and accept that it might take a few extra minutes to get to work that day.
Stress management goes a long way for a happier life
Stress management always seems to be more important than ever. If you're looking for a health plan that supports you in living your best, strongest and happiest life possible, Network Health has options.
For more information on Network Health plans or to contact us about how your existing Network Health plan can help, contact us today.
