April is Stress Awareness Month, a month dedicated to increasing awareness about both the dangers of stress and healthy coping strategies. While stress can be unavoidable at times, there are ways to minimize it, and you can start by understanding its health risks.
Stress cannot only affect you mentally, but physically as well. Long-term stress can lead to a wide range of illnesses including headaches and stomach disorders, in addition to increasing the risk for stroke and heart disease. Understanding the risks of stress can help you better manage it to improve your overall well-being.
One simple way to reduce stress is to relax and recharge. Carving out time in your scheduled to relax and take care of yourself can improve your ability to tackle life’s stressors. Here are a few simple ways to unwind:
• Take a walk
• Read a book
• Go for a run
• Enjoy a cup of tea
• Play a sport
• Spend time with friends or loved ones
• Meditate
• Practice yoga
In addition to taking some much needed time to relax, you can combat stress by changing how you respond to it. You can accomplish this by recognizing when you do not have control and letting it go, focusing on something that makes you feel calm and in control, and developing a vision for healthy living, wellness and personal growth.
Stress comes in many forms and affects everyone differently, but by gaining a better understanding of it, we can work together to help combat it. April is the perfect time to take control of the stress in your life and try out a new coping strategy to reduce it.
