Stress is a major contributor to heart disease which happens to be the number one leading cause of death in the United States. Some say stress is a silent killer so adequately managing your stress is paramount to good health. In fact, I consider it one of the four core pillars of health along with sleep, nutrition and fitness. Here are some quick ways to feel less stressed right now.
- Become intentional about stress management by making it a non-negotiable priority in your life. Stress management is extremely important for many aspects of life. In order to manage it adequately we must make it a daily practice. We know consistency is the key to most health habits. So becoming intentional and getting consistent with your efforts can pay off in a big way.
- Try multiple stress management techniques and identify which ones will work best for your lifestyle. Generally if something is inconvenient or it doesn’t feel natural it’s tough to stick to. I encourage everyone to try multiple techniques and consistently implement a few. There are lots of options such as gratitude journaling, meditation, deep breathing, walks in nature, exercise, etc. But you must find what best fits your lifestyle so you can dial it in and ultimately stick to it long term.
- Identify what parts of your life are most stressful and become proactive about improving those aspect of your life. Stress is often a reaction to certain situations. When we become proactive about trying to make certain situations better, it can go a long way toward reducing our overall stress. Being mindful of situations which stress you out and keeping a mental note of these can help you be more proactive about managing your stress.
In conclusion most people deal with varying amounts of stress throughout their lives. Becoming intentional about stress management and making it a daily practice in your life are key. This can go a long way toward becoming the healthiest version of you. One thing we do in The MAN UP Community is monthly habit change challenges where we focus on one habit each month. Stress management is something we discuss often because of how important it is. One of our challenges is called 15 FOR ME where we dedicate 15 minutes of our day to stress management. If you are read to join The MAN UP community and experience many of these amazing benefits click here: Join The MAN UP Community