Preventing Stress By Building A Healthy Lifestyle, Why Not?

Living in a human world is not easy, no doubt! Unfortunately, it is even more challenging now since the bar of living standards has been pushed much higher than before. People are surrounded by different types of pressures coming from work, family and social expectation. Living under intense pressure itself is not a healthy exercise and, yes, it might damage emotions and mental health going with the effects of external stimuli. Take the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020 as an example. Back in 2020, we were put in an extremely odd situation, being unable to do nothing but getting locked inside, though it could root to become depression, more importantly, it could play as a trigger to soar the rate of depression.

Alexander Pope believes that “Strength of mind is exercise, no rest”. So, why don’t we just start to build a healthier lifestyle, protecting us from being pressured and its negative effects? If you are planning to foster a “stress-free” lifestyle or are currently struggled with stress, this article is for you! These tips may not 100% take away pressures, but they will help you out to manifest a better lifestyle and dealing with all of those pressures.

1. Start doing exercise 

Doing exercises comes up on the top of the list. Exercise, in some perspectives, is actually no more than a physical stress. You might question, “how can physical stress alleviate mental pressure?”. Most people believe in this opinion since exercise requires much work than fun at the very first steps. But when you get used to those routines, you will enjoy them and addict to them.

Looking into science aspect, Harvard Health Publishing explains it is because while doing exercise, the levels of adrenaline and cortisol, which are known as stress hormones, are reduced. Meanwhile, the process encourages producing endorphins, a natural painkiller getting involved in forming feelings of relaxation and optimism.  Thus, pressure is eased at that moment of practicing exercises.

In fact, doing exercises brings up much more benefits for a person than just producing relaxing feelings, benefiting in the long run.  As you know, exercise functions as a great solution in improving physical appearance, putting you in shape, for example. It takes a while to see the result. An individual is required to put time and effort while following the plan. The mental limit is tested and upgraded day by day. Doing exercise strengthens an individual’s mind, bringing a sense of mastery and control. Thus, by doing so every day, we might be strong enough to faced challenges confidently without being afraid of pressure.  Thus, witnessing those changes in the body shape obviously values you with positive emotions. With the upgrade in self-image, your self-confident is also boosted up.

2. Practise healthy habits

I would mention several kinds of healthy habits that you could think of, such as getting a good night sleep, quitting smoke, eating clean, doing skin care routine. Different from doing exercises, practising healthy habits doesn’t get involved in any natural production of relaxing hormones. It doesn’t directly ease stress, however, practising healthy habits prevents your mind and body from getting worse. When working, our body spends a portion of energy to finish tasks and deal with the work pressure. Healthy habits ensure your body to provide an adequate amount of nutrition, keeping you energetic and productive. Pressures have no chance of letting you down!

Furthermore, when a person is practicing healthy habits, it means that person is taking action in caring more about himself or herself. Spending time with yourself is a good way to generate positive feelings. By doing so, you learn how to love yourself, understand self-value and take pride in what you have. Negative thoughts can’t stop you if the positive energy comes from you.

3. Stop comparing yourself with other online users

In this era of technology, the internet has embraced human life. We work via internet. We communicate with friends via internet. We study via internet. In fact, we just can’t replace it, yet. However, it comes up with massive pressures. 

As you know, the internet offers virtual spaces, allowing us to publish our current achievements and successes. Online users are encouraged to get participated by likes and comments. Social standard has lifted much higher. It is stressful to be surrounded by people with great achievements. Plus, an individual’s value is estimated in public by other comments.  We feel small and useless. As a result, we are put into such a hard game, unstoppable competing with others and keep doubting ourselves. By attempting to affirm self-image online, internet users unconsciously create pressure for themselves and for others.

It is necessary to put a halt in comparing with other online users. Keeping in mind that we are always special on our own!

4. Be honest with your feelings

If you are struggled with pressure, the key recommendation for you is “Don’t ignore your feelings”. It is not a good idea to avoid your true feelings when you are on an emotional roller coaster.  Ignoring negative feelings is considered as bottling up emotions. Human emotion is similar with a boiling pot. When a lid is put on a boiling pot, the liquid within the pot is pressed and will spill out. Avoiding sadness seems to be an immediate solution to prevent a person from negative feelings, bring him/ her a sense of peaceful. However, while attempting to ignore them, negative feelings aren’t taken away but being accumulated day by day. In fact, it has a high potential of exploring more fiercely with all negative emotions stuck inside physical body. The burst of emotion, unfortunately, can damage yourself and others. So, if you are sad, let the sadness flow through your body! 

There are plenty technics to reveals your emotions. 

Catching up with friends sometime is a perfect chance to spill the tea. Friends are counted as the most important people in lives. Everybody needs friends. Believe it or not, good friends are also good for your mental health. Being surrounded with friends preventing you from loneliness and stress. Friends brings a sense of safety because they accept the real you, just like how you accept theirs. It is easier to have an open conversation with them, sharing about your problem and feelings. A good friend is willing to sit down and listen to you. They don’t afraid of telling the truth, even if it might be not what you like. Thus, you are able to widen your perspective, being able to look at your problem in other perspectives. Open conversation benefits you by coming up with helpful advice, or at least, getting some mental supports. 

If you are not a sharing kind of person or you are far away from your hometown or things are too complicated to share, sharing with friends doesn’t work in those situations. In this case, something as simple as writing is a perfect choice. The term of expressive writing is firstly known in public by social psychologist James W Pennebaker. Expressive writing is mainly about revealing thoughts and feelings by words. Thoughts and feelings are structured, bringing as perspectives and experience while venting emotions on papers. By this way, writers are able to analyse and understand their own situations and emotion. Thus, pressure is eased. 

Finally, living in this modern world stuffing up with numerous difficulties, facing pressure is evitable. However, these tips might help you to deal with pressures, keeping you energetic and positive!