6 Tips for Coping with Stress
There are many different ways to cope with stress. These steps range from changing up your routine to meeting with a mental health professional. In this post, I'll outline several steps to get you started.
1. Change what you can
There are lots of stressful situations that are likely outside your immediate control (e.g., dealing with past abuse, chronic pain, or a global pandemic).
But, in some situations, you may be able to make changes to reduce stress. These changes could include looking for a new job, distancing yourself from a challenging friendship, or learning how to manage your finances. You don’t need to upend your life overnight. But it’s important to reflect on what choices are available to you and to think about changing what you can.
2. Build healthy habits
Another way to cope with stress is to build healthy habits that support you both physically and mentally. While this tip may not be new or exciting, these practices give you a strong foundation for coping with life’s challenges.
Some healthy habits include:
Getting enough sleep (ideally 7-9 hours every night)
Staying hydrated
Being physically active, to a level that’s safe for your health and ability
Getting adequate nutrition
Being aware of your caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or drug use
Each of these topics deserve their own article! If you’re concerned about how stress is affecting your physical health, I’d encourage you to talk with a registered health professional.
For some general tips and information, check out the following links from Health Canada:
Physical Activity and Your Health
3. Practice self-care
Talk about self-care can seem cheesy or cliched at times. There are lots of heavy life situations that won’t be changed by taking a nap or getting a pedicure. But practicing self-care is key to coping with stressful situations as best we can. We need to take care of ourselves so that we have the strength to continue on. So no matter how busy we are, it’s important to make time for self-care, even for five minutes a day.
Self-care will look different for everybody. Brainstorm some activities that you find relaxing, energizing, or fun. Some examples include taking a walk outside, sitting in the sunshine, spending time with friends, drinking a cup of tea, reading a good book, or listening to your favourite music.
4. Connect with others
Sometimes when we’re stressed, we withdraw from other people. Often I hear people say that they don’t want to be a burden to their friends, so they keep their problems to themselves. But humans are social creatures. Connecting with other people is key to our mental health.
Reach out to a friend or loved one. Maybe you’ll want to talk about what’s going on for you, or maybe you won’t. You can just focus on doing something fun together. There are lots of different ways to spend time with friends and family these days, from meeting up outdoors at a distance to chatting on Zoom.
5. Take things one step at a time
Don’t create more stress for yourself by making a bunch of changes all at once. Pick a place to start and take things one step at a time. To give an example: Perhaps you’ll begin by working on your sleep schedule. Your first step could be to set a sleep routine by turning your phone off at 9pm. Work on making this new behaviour a habit. Consistency is key. Then you can build from there.
If we take on too much at one time, we may feel overwhelmed and give up entirely. For this reason, I’ve found that people often move forward more quickly by taking things slowly.
6. Talk with a professional
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talking with a psychologist, social worker, or counsellor can help. An experienced professional can work with you to address stress, build positive coping skills, and make changes that better support the life you want.
Read here to learn more about the mental and physical effects of stress.
About Marnie Rogers-de Jong
I’m a Registered Doctoral Psychologist in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I’m experienced in providing counselling for people dealing with stress, anxiety, and perfectionism, as well as depression, trauma, and relationship issues.
If you’d like to learn more about counselling for stress or other issues, get started by booking a free 20-minute phone call.
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