There were 10,417 car accidents in Philadelphia County in 2021 alone. Many of these accidents were likely caused by driver error, poor weather, and vehicle malfunctions. But some were likely caused by emotional instability and stress. Being stressed can cause many things to go wrong, from weakening your immune system to making it much easier to get distracted.
Unfortunately, the best way to get rid of stress is to remove the source, but this isn’t always possible. No matter the cause, focusing on your mental health can help ease your stress and make life much more enjoyable, and the following information will hopefully help you achieve this.
It’s so easy to hyperfocus on the future or get lost in the past. While we shouldn’t forget our past, since it led us to where we are and has a lot to teach us, and we need to be aware of the future, you can’t focus on either completely or you’ll lose sight of what’s right in front of you: the present.
When past thoughts and worries for the future creep in, take a deep breath. Then, decide what you’re going to do. You could do one task, like cooking or watching television. This can build your focus and push those thoughts to the side.
If that isn’t an option or still allows the thoughts to seep in, then try mindfulness exercises. Meditation and yoga are good options, but if those aren’t your style, then activate your senses instead. Take some time to really focus on what you can see, hear, touch, taste and smell in your current environment. This is an important part of meditation, but it can be done separately from it as well.
The goal is to remind yourself of your surroundings and that your worries don’t matter right now; you’d solve them now if you could. But you can’t, so it's time to focus on other things for a while.
Everyone has unique interests; it's part of what makes us unique. Many of these interests easily translate into hobbies, which is amazing for our mental health.
To find the right hobby for you, start by nailing down your interests. For example, if you truly love listening to music, then you could learn music theory, look into every musician you find, or use free online tools to start making your own music.
If you instead find yourself fascinated by plants then start a little garden or get a few houseplants and visit your local parks and gardens. Even learning new things can be a hobby! You could start learning cool and interesting facts and play trivia games to test your knowledge and find new rabbit holes to explore.
If you’re still struggling to find the right hobby for you even after considering your interests, then go try new things. Something will eventually catch your attention.
Exercise has some uniquely positive effects on mental health and is a good remedy for a myriad of conditions as a result, such as depression and anxiety. This is especially true when dealing with stress, which has many negative effects on the body.
It can tense muscles, cause them to cramp, create digestive problems, prevent you from sleeping and much more. Exercising both works and relaxes muscles, which relieves cramps and tension, makes it easier for you to sleep, and overall makes you feel good.
That’s not all exercise does for your mental health, though. It also makes you stronger. See, exercise releases endorphins in your brain, which make you feel better by relieving pain and reducing how stressed you feel. That means that exercise is actually one of the best counters to stress. This is why exercise feels good, even when you’ve been working hard enough that you’re super sweaty and know you’ll be extremely sore the next day.
If your daily life is stressing you out and you don’t see a way out any time soon, then start up an exercise routine. You’ll start to see the mental benefits almost immediately.
Sometimes, we get overwhelmed by emotions. There are times when this is expected and acceptable, such as getting extremely excited over a promotion or being upset when someone close to you passes away. In both cases, the cause is clear, so the emotions will pass with time.
Stress, on the other hand, is usually a culmination of many things and can’t simply be eliminated from life. What’s even worse is that it makes you more susceptible to rapid mood swings and negative emotions. You may get frustrated or upset easily or find yourself frequently sad or angry.
When you’re trapped in an undesirable emotion, take the time to focus on it. Try and learn when it started, what caused it, and, most importantly of all, what it even is. It’s likely a combination of many, so break it down and name each individual emotion. Once you know exactly what you’re dealing with, you can identify the cause and work to return yourself to a more neutral mental state.
It can be pretty hard to convince yourself to stop for a bit and take a break. Not taking breaks or taking breaks incorrectly can be negative for your mental health, though.
Stopping and stepping away from your desk for even just five minutes gives your brain the chance to slow down and recharge. If you can, do some minor exercise like stretches during your break. This will not only boost your mood but also help you be more focused afterward.
However, it's best to spend your breaks away from your phone or computer when you can. Scrolling social media is one of the best ways to make you feel mentally exhausted and even increase how stressed you feel in some cases. Instead, look out a window, take a walk, or talk with your coworkers. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to get back to work in no time.
