Easy Street: Five Miles Ahead

Let's face it, nothing in life comes easily. Balancing your professional and personal life can be exhausting. We are forced to put on masks to conform to certain environments. Stress can be a result of you running through your journey with no breaks. Sometimes it can be difficult to find peace in the midst of chaos. 

When we allow ourselves to be boggled down in stress, our body begins to adjust to it.  High blood pressure, depression, insomnia, and anxiety are just a few traits that result in your body undergoing constant stress. It is so easy to adapt to the negative facets of pressure, however, discovering your own stress relievers can be extremely beneficial. Below are five beneficial ways to relieve stress: 

1     Talk – Whether you are confiding to a trusted individual or a higher power, you have to vent. I have grown up learning the hard way how unhealthy it is to suppress what you are going through. I was always fearful of being judged, misunderstood, or just ignored all together; even spiritually. 

v

      As I began establishing my relationship with God, I had to learn how to trust in my inner faith. I simply find a quiet place and I meditate. I explain what I am going through and I have an opportunity to evaluate the situation thoroughly. The more you talk it out, the more light unveils within yourself.

      Move – Stress is draining on a person, and those who are closely linked to the individual can be key contributors. People do not realize how much pressure they add on to what you are already battling. At the end of each day take a moment out for your mind and body to relax. Turn your phone off, close your laptop, and give yourself some time to relax. Most people think that resting is the best method for relieving stress, however, they neglect to mention how important it is to move around. 

      I did not realize how unhealthy I was living because when I was overwhelmed I would never get out of my bed. I would dodge class, family, work, and I would just lay in bed. I was always tired no matter how long I stayed home and that is because I stuck myself in my hassles. I had to find activities that were active and relaxing, such as, walking outside, doing yoga, and even cooking.

          Avoid Tobacco and other harmful substances – I picked up a nasty nicotine habit at a young age. Chain-smoking began surfacing as I would sit in my apartment and empty a pack of cigarettes in almost a day. I am still too young to carry the burden of nicotine addiction. It takes away from my health, my pockets, and my social life. I do not like smoking around others because it is quite embarrassing.

I have discovered healthier solutions to relieve stress and to give my hands something to do rather than lighting a cigarette, such as, avoiding peers who were smokers, I drink water whenever I get the urge, or I chew gum. Whether you are a smoker or a drinker, if you cannot control your moderation under stress, you need to avoid it all together.

        Learn Something New – Our lives can become pretty routine. Although I am in multiple places in the course of a day, my schedule is monotonous. To keep my mind at ease and engaged, I pick up new hobbies. Last February I began painting, on Wednesdays if I am not working I will go to poetry night at a local community center. I put myself in new environments that I can easily adapt to and ultimately I break out of the constraints of my regular agendas.

      Treat Yourself – Set money or time aside to indulge in something that makes you happy. Whether you treat yourself to a pedicure or biweekly full-body massages, it is important to spoil yourself.

Life can be demanding and allowing stress to overcome your well-being is harmful. Stress is the result of a person not finding a point of relaxation. NEVER wait for your body to tell you to rest because once you reach that point, you are probably at your wits end. Venting or meditating can be a great way to release what is shadowing your relief.  Embarking in new activities allows you to expand your repetitive lifestyle.

Create a healthy lifestyle, it does not make sense to tack on unhealthy habits because it eventually adds more stress. You can overlook the  Surgeon General warnings about using tobacco products but television commercials and other forms of advertising constantly denounce its use. That message is not going away when you continue that habit. Try to move around and partake in relaxing activities, such as, walking outside. Simplicity is the greatest source of happiness and peace from the complexities of our lives. 

The Trip comes with challenges but it teaches us how to love and treat ourselves.