{"id":4553,"date":"2021-03-15T14:33:50","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T14:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neuraxpharm.com\/se\/?p=4553"},"modified":"2026-02-06T07:16:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T07:16:30","slug":"nine-tips-for-reducing-and-managing-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neuraxpharm.com\/se\/nine-tips-for-reducing-and-managing-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"Nine tips for reducing and managing stress"},"content":{"rendered":"
Stress is a common part of modern, hectic life. It affects work, home, and relationships, with multiple triggers that often seem beyond our control.<\/p>\n
Living with stress is a natural part of life, and most of us experience it as a reaction to a specific cause, such as disagreements, relationship issues, or work pressure. The gradually increasing impact of smaller problems can also raise stress levels, but in general, stress is something that fades over time.<\/p>\n
Stress differs from anxiety, which is a feeling of worry that persists even after the stressful moment or period has passed. Such feelings can escalate into an anxiety disorder or depression.<\/p>\n
Stress is a natural human function where the body releases hormones to prepare for the so-called ”fight or flight” response. We now live in a time where greater emphasis is placed on performance, material possessions, and status, which creates more stressors.<\/p>\n
Social media can intensify stress levels, and the entire world has also been subjected to additional strain from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has altered many aspects of life that were once taken for granted.<\/p>\n
Work is an obvious source of stress with deadlines and goals. A survey by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work reported that 51% of workers experienced stress in their employment.<\/p>\n
The EndStress.EU campaign launched by European trade unions states: \u201cStress has become an epidemic. More than half of all missed workdays in the EU are caused by work-related stress. It\u2019s time for a new EU directive on psychosocial risks at work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Work, family, health, and friendships are interconnected and can all be sources of stress, but there are methods to reduce and manage the negative effects so that it does not develop into a serious condition.<\/p>\n
Nine tips for managing stress:<\/strong><\/p>\n This is particularly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic, when things we take for granted have become uncertain. Repeated lockdowns mean that people work from home and children learn in shared spaces, increasing distance and disruptions in family dynamics. Setting boundaries and schedules provides clarity and can help reduce tension.<\/p>\n Mental Health Europe has launched a guide to help people manage stress during the pandemic, which remains relevant.<\/li>\n The Resilience Institute Europe recommends focused work sessions of 40 minutes followed by a 3-minute walk or stretch to keep the mind and body fresh.<\/p>\n Establishing a daily routine and structuring your work hours will promote a positive work-life balance. Planning your work and creating a routine helps you identify stress triggers and makes you more capable of reducing or eliminating them.<\/li>\n By monitoring your social media use, you can actively take control and minimize the consequences. Consider unfollowing accounts and feeds that cause a negative reaction and choose to reduce screen time.<\/p>\n Some devices send notifications when time limits are reached. It\u2019s also helpful to place your phone in another room or turn it off to have periods without external influence.<\/li>\n This is where social media can be helpful, but talking to people on the phone or via an online platform provides additional personal contact. This gives you a chance to express your feelings and feel supported.<\/li>\n The World Health Organization\u2019s European Regional Office recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week, which equals 15 minutes a day.<\/p>\n Their latest advice includes:<\/p>\n Exercise alleviates the effect of negative stress hormones and releases endorphins that stimulate the brain\u2019s areas for reward and pleasure.<\/li>\n A healthy diet containing fresh vegetables, lean protein sources, and foods rich in antioxidants is a way to reduce stress. By providing your body with the right fuel, you help it function at its best and minimize fatigue and poor health that underlie feelings of stress.<\/p>\n Some foods trigger the release of the stress hormone cortisol in the body, and research has shown that a Mediterranean diet can minimize the damage of cortisol. The Helena study of teenagers found: ”Better adherence to the Mediterranean diet can counteract the effect of stress-induced inflammation and reduce the risk of future mental health problems.”<\/li>\n Not everything in life and work will always go smoothly, so it\u2019s important to accept setbacks and put them into perspective. Being positive is about dealing with problems but also finding a way to move forward rather than holding on to periods that can become detrimental.<\/p>\n ”In life, there is always a solution to every problem,” says Professor Sir Cary Cooper, Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health at the University of Manchester, England. ”Not taking control of the situation and doing nothing will only worsen your problems.” He also advises taking time at the end of each day to write down three things that went well or that you are grateful for.<\/li>\n A doctor can advise on healthcare support available in your area. Volunteer groups are also a source of help and information on how to manage stress. Mental Health Europe has a list of national authorities that can provide assistance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n References:<\/strong><\/p>\n Stress is a common part of modern, hectic life. It affects work, home and relationships, with several triggers that often seem beyond our control.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":6847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[109],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stress"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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