Stress is a common cause of many ailments in the body. One particular example is migraine, a condition where an excruciating and sharp pain is felt on the one side of the head. Migraine can be very troublesome and may prevent you from completing your tasks when it attacks.
All people encounter stress-inducing agents day in, day out. Work, school, family, or even just day-to-day life experiences in traffic, smog, or rainy weather may cause stress to anyone.
How does one avoid being stressed? Or if one is already stressed, what can be done to lower stress levels in order to prevent migraine and other sickness, too? It’s not easy, and it may well be impossible to avoid stress, but we can at least try to alleviate what is already there.
Identify the Root Cause
To avoid being stressed out, first you have to find out what makes you stressed. Evaluate your activities everyday. Does your boss pressure you too much into closing more deals with clients? Do you have a major exam today? Did you fight with your parents? After you discover what stresses you out, address them properly. Strategize and then design a plan that will make you think about these stressors less, or at least be affected less by them.
If it’s about work, think about ways to make yourself more productive, so that your boss will not criticize your performance too much. If it’s school-related, such as exams or projects due on a certain day, make sure that you study for that exam or work on your project at least a week before the day it is due, depending on how hard it is for you to concentrate on that subject or task. If you discover that you simply have too much to do on any given day, make a list of what you have to do, and then allocate your time accordingly.
Relaxation and Breathing Techniques
If you are already stressed out, or you feel that your stress levels are building up, and you need to unwind in a hurry, you can try to do some simple breathing exercises to help you relax a bit. Inhale deeply, hold your breath for about five seconds, and then exhale. When exhaling, make sure that you relax your body from head to toe. Do this several times.
Another quick relaxation method would be as short bath or shower at the end of the day. Fifteen to 20 minutes of soaking in a warm bath or standing in a warm shower helps relieve stress at the end of a long and tiring day. For long-term stress relievers, you can incorporate simple stretching exercises every morning and at night in your daily routine. Also, if you are an animal lover, having pets to cuddle and play with in the house can also help in making your stress levels drop.
Take a Break!
Finally, we should always remember to give ourselves a break. A well-planned short vacation every now and then would help a lot in maintaining a stress-free life. Feel free to explore new places, and make sure that you do not bring whatever stressors you have with you (meaning, leave your work at the workplace, leave your problems at home). Just relax and enjoy.