Healthy ways to deal with stress

Over the past few years more and more people have responded to the "How are you?" question with answers like "tired", "overwhelmed", "stressed". We do not live in a perfect world, so it is inevitable that we will be faced with stressful situations. If we do not find healthy ways to deal with stress in our day to day living, it can negatively affect our mental and physical health. Here are some things that I have found to be helpful in ensuring that my mind is healthy enough to deal with the stresses of life:

Put God first

Matthew 6:33 encourages us to seek FIRST God's kingdom and His righteousness, and everything else will be added unto us. When we start our day with God, it helps focus our minds on where the help we need to take us through us through the day will come from. We may not have the time to read an entire chapter from the Bible every morning, but we can read at least one verse and meditate on how we can apply it to our lives. We can pray on our way to school or work, or while doing chores at home. Connecting with God as the first priority of our day fills our spirit and soul, so even if our day goes crazy, we will be able to get through it with His help.

Spend time in praise and worship

In Isaiah 61:3 mention is made of using the "garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness". When we worship God, we focus on who He is rather than the situations that we are facing. As we remind ourselves of how big God is and of His presence with us in the midst of our times of trial, we are able to lay our burdens at His feet and have a peace of mind that only He can bring.

Do something that brings joy 

It is easy to get so caught up with the demands of life that we feel that can't make the time to do things that we enjoy, but we have to realize that we cannot pour from an empty cup. If we keep giving of ourselves to all our various responsibilities and do not make the time to do the things that will rejuvenate and refresh us, we will soon find ourselves being ineffective and unable to cope with the stresses of life. We should not feel guilty about making time to do things that make us happy, because when we do so we would be in a better frame of mind to handle our other responsibilities.

Spend time in nature 

There is something about being immersed in nature, soaking in the beauty of God's creation, breathing in fresh air that brings peace to our soul. Whether it means taking a walk around a Savannah, soaking in the beach, relaxing by a river or going outside to take in a breathtaking sunset, time spent in nature does wonders for our mental well-being, and truly restores the soul.

Exercise regularly

One of the downsides of technology is that it has given us a much more sedentary lifestyle, which does not give our brain the oxygen it needs to function at its optimum. Physical exercise is not only good for our body, but also for the health of our minds. It is even better when we choose a form of exercise that we actually enjoy doing, and we do it with others, as this acts as motivation for us to be consistent.

Get sufficient sunlight

Sunshine gives us vitamin D which is a source of calcium, but it also helps to improve our mental well-being. We are generally happier when the sun is shining as opposed to when it is rainy and overcast all day. Best of all it is absolutely free and readily available to us in the Caribbean - all we have to do is to step outside :)

Get sufficient sleep

In order for our brains to function optimally, it needs to get sufficient rest. God rested on the seventh day, not because He was tired after creation, but to set an example for how we should function; there is a time to work, and a time to rest. Operating on limited sleep is likely to leave us exhausted and unable to function optimally the next day, which leads to even higher levels of stress.

Get a confidant

It is helpful to have someone who we can be open and honest with about how we are feeling, without fear of judgment. They don’t necessarily have to ‘fix’ us, but just be there to listen and encourage. They can also serve as someone who we can be accountable to and would check in from time to time to see how we are coping. 

Set attainable goals

Many times we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves by setting unrealistic goals, and then condemning ourselves when we are unable to accomplish them. If we develop more achievable goals, then the likelihood of completing them are increased, and this gives us a feeling of satisfaction instead of being stressed over what we were unable to do.

Be grateful for what you have

Sometimes we stress ourselves so much about what we do not have that we fail to recognize what we do have. While it is good to have goals and work towards achieving them, we should not be so consumed by what we are striving for that we do not enjoy what we already have.

Spend time connecting with loved ones

Surround yourself with positive community who lift you up and make you laugh until you cry and your belly hurts from laughing so much. There is a level of therapy that comes with making these connections with these persons in real life rather than digitally.

If you try all these things and you still feel stressed, seek professional counselling. This does not mean that you are crazy – it just means that you need someone with experience to help talk through what you are facing and help you come up with strategies to deal with it. If anyone needs a referral, my therapist is excellent! I hope this blog was an encouragement to you all, to know that you should take the steps necessary to deal with preserve your mental health so that stress doesn’t develop into a mental health disorder.

John 10:10 -  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.