Life can be stressful. What’s worse is that people tend to fixate on this, making it more difficult to find relief. Though modern living is hectic and packed with endless responsibilities, it doesn’t have to cause you consistent frustration. How are coping plays a big part in how often you experience stress. Sadly, it is easy to develop unhealthy habits to handle growing anxieties and irritations. Whether you smoke cigarettes, eat junk food, or lash out at well-meaning friends, the wrong coping strategies need to be broken before there are long-term ramifications.
Developing healthier coping mechanisms begins with breaking the cycle. The next time you feel inclined to fall into your usual self-destructive routine, consider these alternatives.
Coping by Changing Expectations
More often than not, the anxiety a person is feeling is not the result of external factors. While getting stuck in traffic or dealing with a lazy coworker might seem like stress-inducing situations, it is how you react to the scenario that dictates your levels of frustration. This begins when you set your expectation for a given situation. If you expect no traffic and encounter congestion, you become agitated because of the scene playing out in a different way than anticipated. To change your coping strategy, it helps to lower your expectations in certain ways.
A big part of changing your expectations is accepting that life usually does not go according to plan. Learn to roll with the punches and it will improve the way you react when encountering a series of events you didn’t anticipate. Conversely, try to avoid expecting the worst. Assuming that a terrible situation is going to unfold will create a pessimistic disposition rather than encouraging a sense of joy when the worst doesn’t occur. Manage your expectations in a healthy way, and lay the groundwork for healthier reactions to life’s foibles later.
Eat and Drink
A recent study revealed that the average young adult is likely to skip a full meal or two each day due to rushing around from one obligation to the next. What’s more, statistics show that adults and children of all ages fall short of drinking the suggested daily requirement for water. What’s surprising about this is that eating regular meals and staying hydrated has been proven to keep a person’s mood amiable. You are far more likely to be stressed and annoyed by a normal situation when you’re hungry.
Since overeating is an unhealthy coping mechanism, it is important to take precaution when it comes to food and anxiety. Don’t eat because you’re stressed. Instead, eat to prevent stress. Think about this the same way you would a daily multivitamin. You don’t take vitamins when you’re sick; you take them to keep yourself healthy. The next time you think you can afford to skip breakfast, remind yourself how a nutritious meal can do wonders to keep you feeling good all day.
Forgive Yourself
Some people stress out because they feel they are falling short in one way or another. It can be easy to turn your ire inward and criticize yourself for all you haven’t accomplished. If this is a source of constant worry, learn to practice forgiveness toward yourself. Everyone needs a break now and again. The more you beat yourself up, the harder it will be to take care of your health and responsibilities. Those who struggle with this might want more in-depth solutions like speaking with a therapist or practicing a meditative exercise like yoga.
Though stress is always going to be a part of life, it does not have to dictate your daily routine or force you into unhealthy habits. The ideas discussed here are only a small sample of strategies for coping when you’re unable to relax. The more you experiment with different tactics, the more luck you’ll have figuring out what helps you best.