The Best Ways to Handle Stress
Living in our fast-paced society, in a city like Toronto nonetheless where working constantly is the expected norm, managing stress can be difficult. Finding the best ways to handle stress, in fact can truly become an art form. Let’s explore a few ways we professionals at Yellow Gazebo recommend to help combat those awful feelings of pressure, anxiety, or however you name your stress.
First, name your stressors. Not as I inferred above though; knowing what parts of your life are making you worry or that you’re just putting a lot of thought into can be a great place to start. Do you often say “when I get [blank] done I’ll feel better?” Know that planning to be stress-free in the future often doesn’t solve your problems. We get used to the patterns we create in our lives, and there’s a very good chance that when the current issue you’re feeling stressed about diminishes or disappears, that you will choose (subconsciously of course) to replace it with something else that is also stress-inducing. So try to name your stressors first, because knowing what you’re allowing into your life can help you make better choices. Even if you just try and change your perspective on them.
Next, change your perspective. Okay, this is always easy to say but not necessarily so easy to accomplish. But doing activities such as writing in a journal, talking to a therapist (like a psychotherapist at Yellow Gazebo, for example), allowing yourself to actually be imperfect (yes, it is possible!), and practicing being thankful can all help to make you see your stressors as just a little more easy to handle.
Then take care of your body. Make sure you’re getting enough exercise, but also not too much as planning an exercise regimen that interferes with other important de-stressors like socializing can have the opposite effect of what you’re initially trying to achieve. Plus get enough sleep. And make sure that you get some manual therapy like those we offer at YG, which can be any of the following or a combination of two or more as well: chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, osteopathy, and acupuncture. If you think you only need any one of these therapies when you have an injury or some other reason and don’t think they’ll help with stress, think again. All of these manual therapies can potentially find that part of you that your stress is having a physical effect on, and then can start the physical relief you need.
Finally, love and laugh. As I indicated above, you need time to socialize; being around other people in an informal setting can do wonders for that part of your brain that gets shut off when you’re stressed. Allow it to open up again with a healthy dinner with friends or family, a random phone call to someone who likes to chat (and can also listen), or even sharing a joke with a stranger can go a long way to improving your mood and your perspective. And when you’re with other people, practice being in the moment and focusing on what’s happening right then and there. Because life really is short, and those moments are some of the best moments you’ll ever have.
If you’d like some more information, would like to book a free consultation or would like to go ahead and schedule an appointment at Yellow Gazebo, please give us a call at 416-909-2334, email us at info@yellowgazeboclinic.com, or use the online booking link below. We’ll be happy to help you get on your way to optimum health.
