Are you suffering from chronic stress? Many of us are—whether we’re stressed out by our jobs, complicated relationships, caregiving responsibilities, or the general state of the world. If we can learn how to handle stress better and build up stress resilience, we’re more likely to thrive. Here are seven guidelines to get us there:
Embrace Uncertainty
Life is uncertain, and things will not always go according to plan. But, if we get better at tolerating uncertainty, it can lead to less stress. One way is to practice mindfulness meditation, which keeps you focused on the present and prevents thinking about uncertainties.
Don’t Fret About What You Can’t Control
Like the old adage goes, when things go wrong, it’s good to recognize what’s in your control and what isn’t—and then focus your attention on changing what’s under your control.
Harness The Body’s Stress Response to Meet Challenges
The physical effects of stress depend on our attitude—whether we see it as a bad thing or recognize the positive, energizing elements of that mode. When we see the benefits of stress, we show a healthier stress response in our bodies—which can help us overcome challenges.
Train Your Cells to Metabolize Stress Better
Getting an occasional shot of high stress that our bodies can tolerate and easily recover from builds resilience at the cellular level. High-intensity interval training, a cold shower or a sauna helps expose your cells to short bursts of stress.
Use Nature to Recalibrate
There is ample evidence that spending time in nature reduces stress and improves well-being. Being in green spaces allows us to experience “attention restoration”—a kind of recovery from the stress of cognitive overload and constant stimulation that many people experience in their everyday lives.
Practice Deep Rest
Deep relaxation is different from what we typically think of as “relaxing”— watching TV or walking our dog. It’s more about the kind of experience you might have on a meditation retreat, where you practice letting go of all responsibility and just being.
Find Moments of Joy in Your Life
It’s important to cultivate more moments of joy in our lives—especially moments of purpose and meaning. Happiness and gratitude give us the resources to zoom out, take a healthy perspective, see the challenge, stay flexible, and be resilient.
