7 healthy ways to overcome a stressful situation

How to overcome a stressful situation.

We all encounter stressful situations from time to time.

Here are my 7 top tips to overcome a stressful situation in a healthy way, even when you’re feeling totally overwhelmed and haven’t a clue where to start!

overcome a stressful situation image of rainy background with the hands of a woman holding a coffee cup

1. Be gentle on yourself.

Trying to overcome a stressful situation can take its toll, especially if you keep trying to solve the problem at full pelt.

Take regular breaks throughout the day. If you have difficult tasks to do, reward yourself afterwards.

Make that telephone call you’ve been putting off then have half an hour watching your favourite tv programme, reading a book, going for a short stroll or having a hot drink.

overcome stress - image of woman wrapped in a blanket drinking a hot drink from a blue mug

2. Take a moment to reflect

If you need to wrap yourself in a blanket and cocoon for a while, do so! Sometimes we just need to stop for a short while and regroup and regather our strength and thoughts and there is no harm in this (for short periods at least!) 

Know that you have strength and that you too can do hard things. Often we forget to acknowledge that we are tougher than we think we are. Once you feel a bit stronger, you can get back to it! 

eat a healthy diet love heart shaped plate with healthy choices on it including salmon, oats, fruit and nuts

3. Set yourself up for success

Avoid obvious stimulants like coffee, sugar, alcohol and snacks that are full of sugar and salt etc. 

Eat regularly and include some protein and fruit and vegetables.

Keep well hydrated as this will help you be able to think more clearly and if you eat well you’ll avoid ending up feeling lightheaded and hangry.

image of a man in bed surrounded by white bedsheets

4. Get enough sleep 

If possible, get plenty of sleep. Sleep allows us to process things that are happening and helps us be ready to deal with whatever the next day brings.

If you’re struggling to sleep try to rest, nap, put some soft music on (Spotify has some amazingly healing deep sleep playlists) and relax. 

Top Tip: Check out my articles about sleep 

image of pastel towels tumbling out of a washing machine

5. Think about what you need to do to get through the day

Often we feel that we need to do all the things when actually what we do need to do is to work out what we need to do to get through the day and do only  that! 

The main things we need to consider is to have a basic level of hygiene, something for dinner, a shower and clean pants for tomorrow! Most of the other stuff can wait. 

If your stressful situation is likely to be on-going (like you or a family member is chronically ill or you’ve got a very busy lifestyle) organise a support network of friends to help you or hire a cleaner, dog walker or gardener to take some of the tasks you need doing off your list! 

overcome stress image of woman knitting a pink scarf

6. Spend time doing something different to help you relax

Often the last thing you fancy doing when you’re really stressed is to spend time on your favourite hobbies. But often having that time away can be hugely helpful.

Even spending 15 mins doing the crossword or a puzzle, doing some knitting or crochet or art can be enough to help you feel a little bit calmer again.

If you’re struggling to come up with a solution to a problem taking a step away can often allow you enough head space for a working solution to come to you.

I have often found a solution to a problem when I’m 16 laps into a swim and nowhere near a notebook!

overcome stress image of woman in yellow coat with a rainbow umbrella seeing if it's still raining

 7. Keep thinking positive thoughts!

As Maya Angelou said ‘Every storm runs out of rain’

There will be a time when the wedding has happened, the divorce is finalised, when people’s need for constant care has passed over. When you’ve moved house and the keys to your new house are in your hand or you’ve got that new job! 

Keep the idea of a happier, brighter time on the horizon. When whatever is ‘threatening on eating you’ has moved on to tastier morsels.  Before long the threat will have passed over, the situation resolved one way or another and you can go back to normal, heaving a sigh of relief that you no longer have to deal with this stressful situation.

Something to buy:

A rollerball of carrier oil infused with a blend of relaxing essential oils to help you relax. It’s exactly the right size to pop in your bag or pocket to give you a moment of calm when needed.

https://uk.nyrorganic.com/shop/sjcooper/product/2805/relaxation-remedies-to-roll-9ml/ afflilate link 

Over to you!

How do you overcome a stressful situation?

Please leave me your answer in the comments 

 

Sarah Cooper

I am a Reflexologist, Reiki Master Practitioner and Writer from Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire. I love writing about Health and Wellbeing, Mind Body Spirit and Reflexology. When I'm not at work, you can find me in the kitchen cooking up a storm!

If you'd like to book a treatment please go to https://www.sarahcooper.co.uk/book

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