Stressed? Simple Routines That Make a Difference

Someone once said, stress is an inevitable part of life. I think it’s true that no one can go through life without having to deal with stress. And we all have ways to measure the amount of stress in our lives. For me, it’s PMS. When I have PMS symptoms, I know stress has gotten to me.

But there’s good stress – which is a natural part of learning and growth; and there’s bad stress – which is the cause of unhappiness and ill-health including premenstrual syndromes.

I admit that stress has beaten me many times. In fact, I have to remind myself daily to keep stress to a manageable and tolerable level.

Here’s what I do:

Physical exercise

is a wonderful way to counter mental exhaustion and stress. I make sure I get some aerobic exercise at least 3 times a week. I take a Zumba class on Wednesdays, go for a long walk on Thursdays, and go for a hike every weekend.

Meditation

is what keeps me centered and balanced. Whenever I feel stressed out, I meditate for about 10 minutes. When I wake up from the meditation, my head’s clearer and I always feel calmer.

Taking short breaks

during the day is a great way to break up long and tedious work and prevent stress from building up. Research has shown that short breaks are highly effective at improving focus, mental clarity and sustained performance.

I take short naps

occasionally. In some cultures napping after lunch is the norm. It takes me a while to get over the guilt of napping in broad daylight. But 10-15 minutes generally does the trick. And it’s definitely worth it!

I do some stretching and relaxation exercises.

My favorite is the “shaking the tree” meditation – gently shaking the whole body, letting go of tension and giving yourself a natural internal massage.

I take a few deep breaths.

Deep belly-breathing is one of the most effective de-stressers there is. It works, has no side-effects, and it’s free.

I step outside and go for a walk.

I share some love

by going to my boyfriend’s office and giving him a kiss. And I always get something sweet in return.

Sometimes I play with my cat.

I find her amusing personality a nice way to take my mind off work and study.

I make myself a nice pot of green tea,

sit under the sun, and savor it.

These de-stressing routines work wonders. You may have your own routines, or you may decide to pick a couple from my list. Either way, I think it’s really important to incorporate similar routines into your day to keep stress below your threshold level.

One last word: Stress is a big killer when it comes to premenstrual syndrome and period problems. Managing stress is one of the big lessons I’ve learned in finding PMS relief!

Please leave a comment and share your routines…