How to Reduce Stress in Your Day-to-Day

For this article, I brought in help from my dear wife, Mrs. SavingsAngel AKA Jenny Elledge, who is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She sees plenty of couples where one or both partners experience stress or chronic anxiety. Here’s Jenny!

Stress is Normal

You’re not alone. It’s been a stressful time. There’s no denying that. With the constant changes and fluctuations in our daily lives in this COVID era, there have been some ‘major disturbances in the Force’ in relation to the consistency or solid routines in our lives.

This has led to an insane amount of spikes in anxiety and stress-induced health issues in the general population. Here are some ways to go into the rest of 2021 with better stress-reducing techniques and practices.

Recognize When You’re Highly Stressed

Some of us are so accustomed to stress these days that we don’t even realize it until we hit burnout. Don’t wait until you hit a rough patch to address your stress; pay attention to your body and mind for signs that you're anxious.

Do you get shaky when you’re stressed? Do you feel your heart pumping in your chest during tense moments at work? This is your blood pressure rising due to a physical stress reaction. When you start to notice these bodily reactions, stop and take a deep breath. Think about what is stressing you in that moment and recognize that you’re stressed. This acknowledgment can help kick-start you into problem-solving mode.

Ask yourself two questions: if I’m stressed, is there a solution? If not, why am I stressed out? If there is a solution, find and execute it, or ask for help in doing so. If not, tell yourself that this moment of stress will likely pass.

Find the Things that Comfort You

Identify the things that bring you peace during scary, anxious moments, and always keep those tactics in your back pocket.

Does meditation or calming music help you out? Keep a pair of earbuds on you, and when you need it the most, excuse yourself for a few moments to calm down and listen to something soothing. If that doesn’t work, some people like to do high energy activities – like a 4-minute dance party, or punching the air, or a quick jog around the block.

Is there a texture or smell that soothes you? Carry around a worry stone, piece of textured fabric, or essential oil that you can use during these moments. It’s not a perfect fix, but it can definitely take the edge off of the most stressful moments.

Communicate

If you’ve been feeling a high amount of stress for several weeks or months, it may be time to talk to a therapist or loved ones. Communicate with them about what’s going on. They’ve experienced heightened anxiety, too. They’re on your team and in your corner. Let them know what you’re feeling and consider scheduling a doctor’s appointment to make sure your body’s reaction to increased stress isn't causing any serious health issues.

Access to a therapist has never been easier. I see all of my clients via Zoom where it can be much more convenient and comfortable. Therapy is just not for ‘broken’ people. It’s for everyone who wants to improve any area of their life. A licensed therapist follows a code of ethics and is trained to use behavioral health principles that work.

Find someone that fits what you need and schedule a session. Therapy of any kind is always on your terms, so do and share what makes you comfortable.

As stressful as the current times are, there are resources and people out there to help you. You just have to take the first step and ask for help when you need it.