5 Ways to (Healthily) Cope with Stress

By Chloe Thompson

Looking back through the past, you might recall times of high stress or anxiety in your life, but do you remember how you coped with that stress? Most of the time when you’re under pressure, it’s hard to make conscious decisions to healthily cope with those emotions, and you could end up managing it in unhealthy ways. As easy as it might be to feed into those detrimental habits during a period of stress, it is crucial to find healthy alternatives to cope until everything passes over. Hopefully, one of these 5 ways might make stressful times a little less harsh, and not do any damage in the process.

1) Journaling

As cliché as it may sound, journaling is one of the best ways to cope with stress or any other overwhelming emotions. It doesn’t have to be something to devote hours to, only a few minutes is all it takes. Jotting down emotions on paper rather than allowing them to bottle up is crucial. It allows you to face the emotion in a healthy way and stop yourself from taking it out on anything else. Journaling is also a great excuse to take a break from work, recharge, and then get back to it after a little healthy reflection.

2) Movement

Working out, practicing a sport, or even going on a leisurely stroll can be a great way to cope with stress. High-intensity exercising forces your brain to focus on something else and take a break from thinking about what is stressing you out. Working out also releases endorphins, which help to reduce stress as well as relieve pain, and improve one's sense of well-being. Going for a walk and listening to a podcast, or even allowing yourself to reflect on emotions can be extremely beneficial as well. Any sort of movement is both physically beneficial and allows you to take a mental break while improving physical health as well.

3) Talking to a friend or loved one

Some people may be reluctant to talk to a friend or loved one about stress because they do not want to burden others with their emotions. However, sharing your feelings and emotions is extremely important, and most people love listening to or giving advice to their loved ones. Whether you want advice, or just a place to vent, having someone willing to listen will help put your emotions into perspective. In addition, allowing oneself to voice internal stress can help reduce its overwhelming pressure.

4) Taking a nap, or getting more sleep

Sleeping is a great way to alleviate stress, as it allows you to stop thinking about the thing that is bothering you, and additionally gives your body the fuel it needs to preserve through the stress. Either going to bed a few hours early, or taking a quick nap is essential to managing stress, and stopping any unhealthy thoughts or habits to form. Having a regular sleep schedule can also improve stress levels, as it boosts concentration, improves one's mood, and helps with rational decision-making.

5) Make a To-Do list

Making a To-Do list is crucial if the stress you are enduring has to do with certain tasks, work, or school. Making a to-do list allows one to put down everything on paper, stay organized, and rationalize that stress. Being able to visualize exactly what you need to get done can help with the overwhelming emotions drastically. Also, being able to check off each task as it is completed can help boost motivation, and reduce stress as you progress through the list.

Stress is an extremely valid feeling that everyone endures, however, most people don’t realize the importance of coping with stress in healthy and beneficial ways. Following these different tactics will not only improve the overwhelming emotions but also help other aspects of your life in the process. Hopefully, you can find one of these five tips helpful to reducing unhealthy habits and subsiding stress.