How can adults effectively manage stress in their daily lives? Five simple, free strategies to improve your stress management.

Gazing at the serene, snow-covered meadow across the street I find it amusing to be writing a blog about stress management. It solidifies that I am absolutely in my 40s! As a teenager learning how to drive and eagerly anticipated adulthood, I would think about leaving home and living my adult life. "Life will be so much easier and less stressful!" That innocent and blissfully naive thought makes me wish I could travel back in time. I'd step out of the DeLorean, confidently put an arm around my teenage self, and say, "Oh sweetie... savor what you have right now! Your current stress is nothing compared to what adulthood will bring!"

Does your stress have you constantly feeling under pressure and overwhelmed?

Episodic acute stress involves experiencing one stressful event after another. You get a flat tire. Your electric bill is unexpectedly high. Your child informs you about a science project at the last minute and needs all the supplies. You receive a speeding ticket. This type of stress, where one thing follows another, contributes to your feeling of being under pressure.

The more that life hits you because, well, life really doesn't care about your mental health, the more chronic stress builds. Chronic stress leaves you in a state of regular overwhelm, feeling as if you can barely keep your head above water.

What can you do about your stress? Five free, simple strategies to get you in a good direction for stress management.

You've probably heard about self-care. It usually makes people say things like, "Seriously, Shelby. I'm already swamped and can't even think about squeezing in self-care. I can't make it to the gym. I'm too broke for a spa day or a weekend trip. Am I just stuck feeling stressed all the time?!"

I get it! Taking care of yourself can often feel like a huge task, sometimes even impossible! Let’s chat about 5 simple, free strategies for handling stress that I've picked up from some really smart people and that I've personally used to deal with my own stress.

1. Count backwards from 5 the moment you hear your alarm go off. At one, get those feet on the floor and stand up! Yawn, stretch, shake off the sleepiness, make your bed )let out a groan if you must!) and head to the bathroom. The more time you spend lingering in bed while contemplating and dreading the stress in your life only leads you to feeling more stressed out and anxious.

   
   

2. Finish your morning shower in cold water. Yes, I know. Cold water is not fun! However, it will help give you a boost of adrenaline that will help you shed off the anxiety and stress. You may notice that your focus improves throughout the morning.

   
   

3. First, take an actual lunch break. Next, sit down and eat lunch. Taste your food and chew your food. No electronics. No distractions. Simply eat and take in the scenery around you, even if it's some fun people watching! Taking a moment to decompress and just "be" may have positive impacts on your stress levels.

   
   

4. Find small moments to stretch your body in a way that feels good to you. Did you just finish a stressful, aggravating meeting with your boss or a snarky customer? Pause for a minute or two and simply breath while stretching the places that feel tense & tight. Allow the stress to release.

   
   

5. Be intentional with protecting your energy and peace because doing so can improve stress and overall mental health! Identify what is stressing you out that has an actual problem to solve and what stressor is outside of your locus of control. Solve what you can and the rest of the stressful situations, thoughts, anxieties can go in a BS box (more on this to come!).

   
   
   
   

Let's wrap it up!

Whether you're experiencing episodic acute stress or chronic stress, you absolutely do not have to sit in that unpleasant experience! Implementing the 5 simple, free strategies can be a step toward improving your stress levels and caring for mental health. If you continue to struggle with stress management despite your best efforts, seek out a mental health professional in your area that can help collaborate with you on ways to address the problematic areas of your life that may be fueling your stress.