Life is made up of stressful situations, and for many, this is no unfamiliar concept. From daily stressors like money, work, or social pressures, to the heavier hitters like the loss of a job, relocating to a new home, or coping with a heavy hardship. Stress is both natural and completely normal. Navigating this physical reaction and finding ways to manage and combat these anxious nerves can greatly impact your peace of mind and overall wellbeing.

Stress and the Positive Impact on your Wellbeing

According to experts, in small bursts, stress can have several advantages.

• Help you meet daily challenges.
• Motivates you to reach your goals.
• Help you accomplish tasks more efficiently.
• Boost memory.
• Aid as a vital warning system (engaging fight-or-flight response).
• Increased focus with the ability to avoid distracting situations.
• Moderate stress can fortify the immune system.
• Improve how your heart works.
• Protect your body from infection.

 

Stress and the Negative Impact on your Wellbeing

Too much stress, if persistant can be detrimental. Emotional stress that lingers can have a negative impact on your health, happiness and overall wellbeing.

• Prolonged stress will weaken the immune system.
• Can result in high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety and even heart disease.
• Alter blood flow, the arteries and how cells regenerate.

 

Signals of too much Stress

Differentiating good stress from bad stress, is not always something we can cognitively do. Look out for the ways your body could be letting you know that you’ve exceeded your stress limits:

• Inability to concentrate or complete tasks.
• Prone to sickness (especially colds).
• Sore or aching body.
• Autoimmune diseases flare up.
• Increased or prolonged headaches.
• Social irritability and lack of patience.
• Increased sleeping discomforts.
• Drastic changes in appetite or irritated bowels.
• More temperamental or anxious than usual.

 

Simple ways to Lessen the Stressin’

Stress is an inevitable part of life, but you can improve the way you react to stress by avoiding certain situations/triggers and making these simple lifestyle changes:

Diet:

Believe it or not, what you eat and drink can have an impact on your mood and certainly your levels of stress. Four of the most common culprits include caffeine, alcohol, high-sodium foods, and refined sugars. Whether the pressures is on or not, consider the best and worst foods for stress.

Planning:

Preparedness is a fantastic mental tool and that feeling of being ready can truly help you overcome the most challenging situations. Whether you are planning a big move, or just trying to stay ahead of the unexpected, don’t feel as you have to go at it alone. Employ the help you need, to lessen the stress and make the most of your energy. Beyond Storage is always here to help when the boundaries of your comfort zone feel lost.

Sleep:

For the human body, rest is recovery and without this valuable tool the smallest of stresses can feel more daunting than ever. If you find yourself increasingly more irritated and with a thinning patience, simply treat yourself to better rest! It can sometimes be as simple as a new and supportive pillow; the missing piece to a better nights rest and a stress free week.

Exercise:

Exercise in just about any form can act as a stress reducer. Increased active can boost those feel-good endorphins and serve as a distract you from daily worries. Don’t stress if you can’t find the time for a quick short workout, there’s an app for that.