5 Ways to reduce stress and live a stress-free life

By MODUPEOLUWA ADEKANYE

There are different methods people have put in place to manage stress. However, there are times when stress becomes too much to handle and this leads to depression.

The hustle and bustle of life makes every adult prone to stress and below are ways to eliminate stress according to WebMD:

Exercise

If you exercise often, then it might be time to change your exercise routine. If you don’t exercise, start now. Contrary to some opinions, exercise does not stress people out, rather, it makes your body produce endorphins. Endorphins hormones can boost your mood and make you concentrate on physical movement instead of daily worries.

Endeavour to make it a regular part of your routine instead of a once-in-a-while thing. If you make a real commitment to getting your body in shape, your mind will follow.

Get a new job

It might not be easy switching jobs, but you can put it on your agenda and work towards the target. If your job is causing you mental and physical harm, you should take the leap and find a new one if the problems at work simply can’t be fixed.

There are different factors that can cause stress and it could be a commute that’s too long, a boss that’s terrible, an out-of-control workload, or too little money, a new job might be the only answer. It might create more anxiety for a while, but in the long run, it will be worth it.

Avoid toxic people

It is enough that you are stressed out, having toxic and negative people around you will only make your life more difficult.

The people you deal with every day have a huge effect on your mood and stress level. If interacting with any given person is creating drama or ongoing stress, you need to find a way to end it.

Avoiding toxic people can be as simple as ignoring an annoying co-worker or not taking a nosy neighbor’s calls. But when that toxic person is an old friend or a family member, you’ll have to face it head-on. And you might have to end the relationship in no uncertain terms.

Visit a therapist

Often, we feel stress is something that we can handle as an individual, however, it might be chronic. When this happens, there’s no shame in getting professional help, especially when you notice your mental and physical health is at risk.

Beyond being a friendly and knowledgeable person to talk to, a therapist can assist you in making the major life changes on this list.

Sleep

Sleep and rest help calm the nerves. A poor sleeping habit can lead to poor health. Adults need an average of 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night, if you are getting less, then it might be a sign of stress and it will in turn get you more stressed-out.

To have a healthy sleeping habit, before bed, wind down by turning off your various devices and reading instead of looking at a screen. (The Guardian)