Stress has become a huge factor in life in recent times. We all need a certain amount of stress in our lives. Short-term stress can focus us and help us achieve goals. It helps push outside our comfort zone. This is necessary in life.However, there are many people who suffer from long-term stress, which has many damaging effects. So many things stress people out in 2020.
Some of the causes of stress are as follows
- Exams
- problems at school or work
- abuse of any kind
- relationships
- new responsibilities
- moving house
- a traumatic event – such as the death of a loved one
- illness or disability
- peer pressure, being bullied
- unrealistic expectations placed on you by yourself, friend, family or culture
I think however, there are other causes of stress in the world today. With the huge explosion of technology and all the apps we have, today, many people who spend their time comparing themselves to others and trying to have a picture perfect life. I also think there is great pressure on people to have things and to provide things for their family – things we don’t really need.
Children and young people face huge stresses today as well. Phones and social media mean they never get time away, time to be themselves and to be in family. The pressure to conform, to be like everybody else, to have the things everybody else has is huge. There is the added pressure of school which more and more young people struggle with.
The results of stress are well documented. These include heart problems, blood pressure, stomach problems and depression. Stress among young people leads to all sorts of dis-ease. It also prevents them realising their abilities and reaching their potential. It destroys their self-belief and their self-confidence.
Many people have written extensively about how to alleviate stress. Sleep exercise and healthy food are very important. It is also very important to talk to someone. Social interaction face to face is vital. Relaxation techniques can be learned and journaling can be helpful.
For myself, there are a few things that help alleviate my stress.
1 Going walking – I love to get out in the fresh air and the exercise helps clear my head.
2 Talking to my friends – I read somewhere that sometimes the best therapy is talking to your friend. I walk with my friend and the combination of the fresh air, exercise and the conversation gets rid of the stress completely.
3 Essential oils are also a huge part of stress management for me. I use many oils. I diffuse oils every evening. These include Peace and Calming, Cedarwood, Vetiver and Stressaway among others. I also apply oils topically – Joy and Abundance or Peace and Calming are among the oils I am currently using.
4 Getting enough quality sleep is another thing that helps me. I use Sacred Mountain as I’m lying down. It grounds me and makes me feel safe and this allows me to fall asleep quickly. I rarely wake during the night but always have lavender by my bed if I do.
5 For me as well, I think being organised and keeping on top of what I have to do keeps the stress away. I use my focus roller to keep me on track when I am working.
6 I use meditation and journaling to calm my mind and to organise my days. The 10 or 15 minutes I spend in the morning sets my day up and reduces the chance of stress. The meditation helps me cope if I do find myself in stressful situations during the day.
These are some of the things I do to manage stress. Stress is a fact of all our lives in 2020 and we all need strategies to prevent it becoming damaging.
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