Slowing Down: Stress Relief Tips

Like it or not, stress is a part of life. What makes the difference between healthy stress and stress that can have adverse health effects depends on how you react to it. Stress can have adverse affects on everyone, from premature aging to aggravating existing conditions. The same is true for people with Crohn’s disease and other gastrointestinal disorders as stress can be a major contributor to flare-ups.

Experts agree that keeping a steady handle on your stress is one of the simplest ways of improving your overall health, especially those looking to avoid Crohn’s flare-ups. Here are some ways to get a grasp of your stress, whether immediately or over a longer period of time.

Short-Term Stress Management

Breathe

It’s a common and simple way to get your head straight, but taking extra time to take a breath does wonders. A common practice among Buddhist monks, simply closing your eyes and paying attention to your breathing—being mindful of the feeling as your lungs expand and contract—has calming effects. Slower, deeper breaths also allow your body to absorb more oxygen, which helps organs function properly. Think of those deep breaths as snacks for your brain.

Listen to Music

Just as movie directors use music to set the mood in a film, you can do the same with your day. Whether its classical, jazz, or music from your childhood, the right tunes can significantly alter your mood. Waking to soft, comforting music will start your day in a calmer fashion. Try creating a playlist specifically for stressful moods.

Find a Quick Distraction

Stress is all about the moment, so stepping out of it for five minutes can do wonders to cut down stress. Send a text to a loved one, peek at a funny website, or play with a simple toy. Simple pleasures can help you clear your head and regain your focus.

Find the Perfect Photo

Reminding yourself of happier moments can help calm you down. Having smiling faces of those you love nearby can work wonders. Keeping the right photos around your workspace can remind you why you work as hard as you do: your kids, your last exotic vacation, your dream house, etc.

Exercise

If you’re feeling truly overwhelmed, go for a quick walk. Get out and feel some fresh air against your skin. After a long, stressful day, work up a sweat, whether it be taking the dogs for a run or putting in some time at the gym. Learn how to stay active with Crohn’s disease.

Long-Term Stress Management

Make a List

Even the simple act of writing your stressors down on paper makes them tangible and identifiable. Seeing the word on paper makes them easier to deal with. Organizing the list by importance can help you prioritize what to start working on first. You might just find a few on your list that are not that stressful in relation to life’s bigger dilemmas.

Talk it Out

Talking to a friend or loved one about your problems can help. It can allow you to identify what is really bothering you. Talking with a neutral third party can help you prepare to calmly discuss your stressors to those who contribute to them. Also, a therapist or psychologist could be a valuable tool in helping you manage your stress.

Change Your Perspective

Optimism is a powerful tool employed by the happiest of people. In a sense, facets of our life are subject to interpretation, so the more positively you change your view the less stressful it can be. For example, instead of seeing something stressful, visualize it as yet another challenge you openly accept, and you promise yourself to excel at it.

Set Limits

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider cutting back on what you’re doing. Make another list of things most important to you and look at ways to streamline or eliminate things that get in the way of what you really want.

Get to the Bottom

We sometimes get stressed about seemingly small things when there’s something larger lurking below the surface. Talking about your problems, writing them down, and other methods can help you find out what’s really keeping you up at night. Working too much could feed your desire for success, but that desire could keep you from being happy. Look deeper and you may find something important.