Prolonged periods of stress can wreak havoc on the human body, affecting physical and mental health. The mind and the body are not equipped well enough to endure stress without consequences. Unfortunately, avoiding stress is not possible. Every person goes through short periods of intense stress or long periods of moderate stress. The setup of modern life itself creates the conditions for stress.
Learning to cope with stress is thus a vital skill. Read on to learn how to protect your health.
- Eat Well
When you’re stressed, it’s easy to let your routine fall apart. Skipping meals, eating at random hours, and excessive snacking are examples of unhealthy eating habits associated with stress. An important thing to know is that poor nutrition creates additional stress on the body. Without enough nutrients, your body cannot perform its functions, which may cause you to experience low mood and low energy levels.
When feeling overwhelmed, you may not have the energy to shop and cook healthy meals. However, eating well is essential for minimizing the impact of stress on your body. Consider meal-prepping to avoid relying on unhealthy snacks.
- Consider Dietary Supplements
During stressful times, nutrition is the first area of life that suffers. Dietary supplements can help you fill in the gaps in your diet. They can significantly improve your body’s ability to cope with stress and maintain optimal functions.
Stress has a damaging effect on the cardiovascular system, so find supplements that help support heart health. Visit Luma Nutrition to learn more about your options.
- Prioritize Sleep Quality
Stress reduces sleep quality. Anxious thoughts and worries can keep you up at night. Moreover, stress makes you extra sensitive to noise, which means you may wake up during the night and thus disturb your REM cycle.
Getting enough quality sleep is essential for coping with stress. Sleep is restorative. After a good night’s sleep, your cortisol levels lower significantly.
If you feel stressed, prioritize sleep quality by maintaining a strict sleep schedule. Eliminate potential sources of noise from your bedroom. If you have anxious thoughts before bed, do not reach for your phone just to keep busy. Reading a book is an ideal way to induce sleep.
- Stay Connected to Family and Friends
Emotional support is vital when dealing with stress. When associated with loneliness, the impact of stress is even more severe. To maintain your health during stressful times, you need to allow yourself to vent. Talking about your problems, sharing a few laughs with family and friends, and feeling that you are not alone can do a lot for your mental health.
Unfortunately, stress can distort your views about people and the interactions you have with them. So, it’s important to be mindful of what you say and how you say it. Do not let stress affect your relationships.
Final Words
Avoiding stress entirely is not a feasible option in life. Even if you handle stress well, you still need to pay extra attention to your health during stressful times.
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