Since 1992, April has been Stress Awareness Month. As a nation, we have good reason to be stressed. We have reached the fourth anniversary of the Covid 19 Pandemic, war rages in Ukraine and Gaza, many of our cities are filled with violence, it’s tax season, and corporations are understaffed, forcing many of us to work longer hours. This is the perfect recipe for stress that can eventually impact multiple aspects of the body and mind. Long-term stress can cause more than mental issues, ranging from headaches to gastrointestinal disorders and depression. Severe issues like stroke and heart disease can be rooted in stress. Learning how to cope with stress while finding healthy ways to deal with challenging situations can lead to a better quality of life.
How should you manage stress when you begin to feel overwhelmed? Mason Farmani is a Palm Beach, Florida, intuitive personal and corporate life coach. He outlines ways to slay stress.
Find Your Purpose
One way to manage stress is to find your purpose and recognize what speaks to you.
- For example, if you want to follow your passion for photography, start a page that displays your work.
- Build a community around you based on shared interests.
- Surround yourself with positive people who support your purpose
- Turn hurt into healing, if you had a tough childhood, volunteer to become a big brother/sister.
Your stress levels can decrease significantly by finding and taking advantage of something you enjoy.
Spend Time in Nature
Studies have found that connecting with nature and/or just simply touching a tree has grounding and neutralizing effects.
Meditate
In today’s world we are constantly in fight or flight and since our bodies are not designed to endure that level of dysregulation. By giving your mind a break even for 15 minutes at a time, we can bring our mind and body back to physiological Equilibrium. One good example of guided meditation for beginners is the Headspace App.
Shut Off That Smartphone
Many of us are overly dependent on our phones or computers. Studies have shown that using them too much or too long can increase stress levels. Excessive smartphone use has been linked with mental health disorders and depression. Excessive stimulus/images coupled with white light before you go to sleep, delivered through your smartphone, can keep you up all night.
Exercise
Exercise is nature’s drug. All too often, when we are stressed out, people tell us to rest and relax. While there’s nothing wrong with that, sometimes, what we need to do is get moving. There is overwhelming science as to why exercise reduces stress and even anxiety. It reduces levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. It kicks up the production of endorphins which are mood elevators. That is why you often hear the phrase, “runner’s high.”
Learn To Let Go
It’s important to recognize when a situation is out of your control and shift your focus to something you can control. For example, if you’re waiting to hear back on a job opportunity, there’s no longer anything you can do but wait to hear from the employer. Instead, focus on things you can control, like cleaning your space, clearing your head, and continuing to pursue other jobs.
Accept What You Need
What situations make you feel mentally and physically frustrated or uneasy? Learn how to recognize your triggers and how you can avoid them. Once you become self-aware, you can avoid them when it’s reasonable and learn how to cope when you can’t.
Manage Time
Prioritizing activities you enjoy can help you make the most out of your time. Creating a day-to-day schedule can help ensure you don’t feel overwhelmed by everyday tasks and deadlines while allowing yourself to make time for what you enjoy doing. This can help create a healthy balance between work and fun! Also, make sure you have a realistic relationship with the span of time. Know how long it takes you to do different activities.
Practice Relaxation
Deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation are good ways to calm yourself. When you focus on your needs and get a mental break, you can look at things from a fresh perspective. Taking a break to refocus can benefit you in the moment and the long run.
Social Support: Share your feelings with trusted friends or family members. Spending time with loved ones and engaging in activities together can provide emotional support and perspective.
Random Acts of Kindness: Perform random acts of kindness for others. Doing something nice for someone else can boost your mood and shift your focus away from your own stressors.
Imaginary Vacation: Close your eyes and imagine yourself in your favorite relaxing destination, whether it’s a tropical beach, a cozy cabin in the mountains, or a serene garden. Try to smell what you would smell there, see what you would see, hear what you would hear and finally feel what you would feel. Visualization can help transport your mind and alleviate stress.
Animal Therapy: Spend time with animals, whether it’s playing with your pets, volunteering at an animal shelter, or simply watching cute animal videos online. Interacting with animals can have a calming effect and reduce stress levels.
Fidget Toys and Gadgets: Use fidget toys like stress balls, fidget spinners, or kinetic sand to keep your hands busy and distract your mind from stressors.
Dance Therapy: Put on your favorite music and dance like nobody’s watching. Dancing allows you to release pent-up energy and express yourself freely.
Laughter Therapy: Watch a funny movie, attend a comedy show, or engage in laughter yoga. Laughter releases endorphins and can help reduce stress levels.
Music Therapy: Listen to calming music or create your own music. Playing an instrument or even just drumming along to your favorite songs can be therapeutic.
Mason Farmani
Intuitive Personal and Corporate Life Coach
Palm Beach, Florida
The founder and leader of several thriving companies, both as startups and through acquisitions, Mason Farmani has spent his professional career observing “successful” individuals, including CEOs, business owners, top level leaders of various industries, and the rising stars of today and tomorrow. Often, despite financial abundance and positions of power, these individuals find themselves unfulfilled, unhappy, and unconnected to who they want to be. For Mason, the driving question has been why?
For years Mason found himself in the same place, at the height of his career but unfulfilled and often suffering from anxiety. He found the answer within himself by connecting with his heart and discovering who he truly was. By experiencing a liberating epiphany, Mason saw his true calling and how his experiences provide wisdom and lessons he can share with others. He then changed careers to commit himself to helping others live with intention, connection, and purpose by reconnecting to their true selves. Mason works one-on-one with clients, becoming their motivational coach, supportive cheerleader, and transformational guide, keeping them focused on their commitments, being honest with themselves, and reconnecting with their hearts.
