Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. When you feel threatened, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, which includes adrenaline and cortisol, which rouse the body for emergency action.
There are different ways that you can manage stress. Here are few of them that will surely help.
Avoid Caffeine & Alcohol:
Avoid reduce, your consumption of alcohol and any drinks containing caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant and will increase your level of stress rather than reduce it. Alcohol is a depressant when taken in large quantities, but acts as a stimulant in smaller quantities. Switch from caffeinated and alcoholic drinks to water, herbal teas, or diluted natural fruit juices and aim to keep yourself hydrated as this will enable your body to cope better with stress.
Eat balanced Meals:
Do not skip meals. Eat healthy foods such as nuts, dark chocolates, fruits and vegetables.
Get enough Sleep:
Lack of sleep causes stress. Stop doing any mentally demanding work several hours before going to bed so that you give your brain time to calm down.
Distract yourself:
Listen to music; download your favorite songs, songs that make you happy or play an instrument. This helps you relax and forget about what’s worrying you.
Keep stress diary:
Keeping a stress diary is an effective stress management tool as it helps you become more aware of the situations which cause you to become stressed. Note down the date, time and place of each stressful episode, and note what you were doing, who you were with, and how you felt both physically and emotionally.
This will enable you to avoid stressful situations and develop better coping mechanisms.