It’s #NationalStressAwarenessDay. Feel like it’s all piling up?

We all get stressed. No matter what line of work we’re in, it’s easy to let it all pile up on top of us, which – as we all know – can lead to severe feelings of anxiety.

Stress doesn’t just affect us mentally, either. It attacks the body physically, leaving us vulnerable to sickness.

Today is National Stress Awareness Day, and we’re keen to do our bit to help out. When stress creeps up, bare these tips in mind…

1. Take A Deep Breath

Getting worked up causes you to take rapid shallow breaths, which causes the heart to beat faster and the muscles to tense up. When you’re already feeling stressed, that’s the last thing you want to happen.

Breathing deeply oxygenates the blood, allowing you to relax much more easily. Inhale slowly through your nose, hold the breath for a few seconds, and let it out slowly.

2. Don’t Be The Victim

When bad things happen, a first instinct is to feel sorry for ourselves. We huff and puff, and wallow in self-pity, but all this does is give in to the stress.

Instead, try taking a more pro-active approach to your problems. When something bad happens, don’t focus on the problem. Focus on the solution.

3. Cut Out The Coffee

Even before the stress kicks in, the coffee can make us jittery. Maybe it’s time to consider decaf?

Avoid caffeine-withdrawal headaches by reducing your caffeine intake slowly. Instead of your afternoon cup of coffee, try a glass of water.

4. Be Realistic About What You Can Do

Particularly in the workplace, it can be difficult to say ‘no’. We agree to things that aren’t necessarily achievable, the work piles up, and before we know it, we’re buried underneath it all.

Don’t kid yourself, and don’t be a pushover. If there’s something you simply cannot do, don’t agree to it.

5. Go For A Walk

A relaxing stroll hold countless benefits. Not only will the fresh air do you good, but getting up and moving is key to working the stress out of your body. Even pacing back and forth can do you good.

A decent outdoor walk can give you some alone time to really think about your problems and clear your head.

6. Talk About It

Keeping your worries bottled up is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Letting these things out, vocalising them, and confronting them is a great way to exorcise the demons. Speak with a friend, or write things down in a letter.

You never know, maybe your friend has the same stresses you do.

For more tips and advice, visit the Jak Inc Blog.