Stress gets us in a cycle. Feeling pressured, like you’re always running out of time, can leave you little time to catch your breath. You need to be here, there, everywhere, and you’re starting to feel really down and depressed because of it. You may even feel like you’re out of control of your own life, and that you can’t stop bad things from occurring.
At times like this, it’s important to realise the stress has you trapped in a loop. That’s the first step to doing anything about it! And trust us, you can make a difference to your life at a time like this. Even if big things are going on in the background, you can free up your time, improve the way you feel, and start taking things head on.
With all that in mind, here are the kind of changes to make to help free yourself from an unhealthy stress cycle. The longer you stay in it, the more powerless you’re going to feel, and that’s not good for anyone!
Get to Bed Earlier
This is a very simple change, and that’s why we’re starting with it. Stress builds up stronger when we’re not getting enough sleep – or indeed, not enough quality sleep. But if you make a commitment to getting to bed earlier, you’re likely to slowly increase the hours of rest you get.
Even when they’re low quality, the more you have, the better you’ll beat back the tiredness at the root of the stress cycle you’re in. Of course, if you’re struggling to sleep and you’re always exhausted, it’s best to talk to a doctor about what’s going on.
Replace Potentially Harmful Substances
We come into contact with potential harmful substances on a regular basis – the bleach you use to clean the toilet, for example – and it’s very clear that these things are not for human consumption!
However, we rarely think of potentially harmful substances in terms of things that we can eat and drink. Yet, these are the things we can often turn to when we’re feeling stressed out, especially if the stress seems to be never ending.
Having a drink a few times a week, for example, doesn’t seem like too bad a thing. Similarly, if you used to be a smoker and have had a few more cigarettes in the past week than in the past year, you could pass it off as a simple blip.
But if you’re stuck in a stress cycle and you’re not sure when it’s going to end, it’s best to replace what could turn into a harmful habit with things that won’t have a long term negative effect.
For those who smoke, using nicotine pouches instead of buying cigarettes could be much better for you. After all, you won’t be exposed to substances like tar when using them. For anyone worried about their alcohol consumption, trying out flavour packed ‘mocktails’ could help you to cut back.
Pinpoint the Source of Stress and Ask for Help
Sometimes, in order to truly break free from the cycle, we have to face the stress head on. That means pinpointing where it’s all coming from and putting a plan together to counteract it. This is hard to do alone, however, so we strongly recommend that once you know where the pressure originates, you ask for help from someone capable of dealing with it.
For example, if the stress is the amount of work you have to deal with, the best person to go to would be your manager or boss. Tell them what’s going on, how it’s making you feel, and the effects it’s having on your life. If you’re concerned it’s impacting your job performance and you’d like to have it noted that you’re struggling, they’re likely to go out of their way to make a difference for you.
Or if you’ve just had a baby and you’re finding it very difficult to look after your newborn AND stay on top of the housework, talk to your friends and family about what’s going on. If you have a partner, make sure you talk to them first; even if this will be a hard conversation about their level of contribution, it needs to be had for the good of your health!
When you’re stuck in an unhealthy stress cycle, breaking it is all about making little changes that throw it off course. Show yourself you can make a difference by trying things like these.
