News and Tips

Stress isn’t always bad. The positive kind of stress, or eustress, helps keep us motivated and excited about new experiences things. Eustress is what you feel when planning an exciting vacation, trying to learn a new skill, or going on a date. This is short-term stress that motivates and excites you, and can even help you level up your performance. 

However, as you may know, there is also bad stress, or distress. You might experience acute distress in situations like a traffic jam or a large crowd. When stress becomes persistent, it can develop into chronic stress. Common causes of chronic stress include financial worries, relationship issues, work troubles, health concerns, and more. 

Chronic stress can take a heavy toll on your body. While stress might seem mental, it can actually have a huge effect on your digestion, weight, sleep, or memory. It can also lead to anxiety, depression, muscle tension, or increase your risk of serious health conditions like a heart attack or stroke. 

But let’s not add to your stress by overthinking it!

There are a number of ways you can manage your stress, acute and chronic. 

1. Move your body

We promise we are not just emphasizing this because we are a gym. Exercise has been proven to reduce the stress hormones in your body, such as cortisol and adrenaline, while also increasing your endorphins, your natural mood lifters.

If you are experiencing stress while at work, take a five-minute break and stroll the hallways or climb a few flights of stairs. Even standing up from your chair and doing a few stretches is a great way to get some movement in! 

If possible, take a longer walk outside, do some yoga, play some pick-up sports, or hit the gym!

2. Connect with friends or family

There’s a saying: “A burden shared is a burden halved.” Talking about your stress with a trusted friend or family member can be relieving. They might have some actionable advice, share similar experiences, or simply provide a listening ear. 

Even just being in the company of good friends or family is a great way to reduce stress. In fact, a study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology showed that people were more likely to judge a hill as less steep when with a friend.

3. Try journaling

Journaling can be a fantastic, almost meditative, process for understanding your emotions and stressors. Writing down your thoughts and emotions can help you sort through your feelings, and identify your priorities and major stressors. Keeping a log of what triggers your stress and what helps calm you can be insightful and a useful tool for managing future stress.

The next time you feel stressed, take five minutes to write down how you are feeling. Let your thoughts flow from there.

4. See a psychologist or therapist

Consulting a psychologist or therapist can be a valuable way to manage your stress, and it does not have to be a last-resort option. A psychologist can help you better your stress response and the underlying reasons for them, which can lead to more effective stress management strategies. 

Therapy or consulting with a psychologist is a fantastic tool to address the many stressors and challenges we all face in life. It’s becoming increasingly accepted as a crucial part of our overall health care.

For the best treatment options, consult with your primary care physician for a referral. 

5. Prioritize sleep 

This can be a tricky one, as stress often leads to poor sleep, which in turn can increase stress levels. A study through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that people with poor sleep habits had three times the likelihood of increased stress. 

If you find stress is impacting your sleep, try avoiding electronics right before bed, drinking herbal tea, taking a hot shower, and keeping a consistent sleep schedule.