How to Cope with Stress: Tips for Taking Care of your Mental Health

Everyday we must face challenges that can make us feel under pressure, but we need to learn how to deal with them or they will end up taking a toll on our mental health.

Stressful situations happen all the time (from a flat tire or a bad grade to an increasing difficulty in a video game), but if we fall under the negative effects of stress over and over, our minds and bodies start to resent it.

According to The American Institute of Stress, among the worst effects of stress, we might experience:

• Lack of focus and concentration
• Obsessive behavior and excessively worrisome thinking
• Leaning towards withdrawal or isolation
• Abrupt and unexplained weight gain or loss
• Inability to sleep or have proper rest
• Exacerbated irritability and anger
• Abuse of substances like alcohol and drugs
• Frequent headaches or pain
• Excessive impulsive behavior

If you simply want to control your everyday stress, consider these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

MAKE TIME TO UNWIND

Look for activities that you really enjoy and purse them. Taking a walk, reading, painting, dancing, writing or even taking care of small chores around the house (if that's your thing LOL). It's all about distraction and entertainment to reward yourself a little bit. If you like reading, how about 6 books about extraordinary entrepreneurs that broke the rules and succeeded in business?

IMPROVE YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Try to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting or laying. The CDC recommends about 150 minutes a week of physical activity. If you're not usually active, you can start with  small periods and make them a little bit longer each day. You can check these YouTube fitness channels to pump up your workout motivation.

GET PLENTY OF SLEEP

We need about 7 or 8 hours of sleep everyday to make sure our bodies recover properly. But, just in case stress is affecting your sleep, you can learn a thing or two about Melatonin, the secret behind your internal clock and sleep cycles.

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT 

It's always important to remember to have a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. The CDC alerts about limiting the intake of saturated fats, salt, added sugars and cholesterol. We have some good ideas on healthy foods to make you feel fuller for longer.

TAKE DEEP BREATHS OR MEDITATE

There's no better way to counter the negative effects of stress than the gift of self care. Meditation can go a long way in putting your fight-or-flight urges to rest. We recommend these meditation apps that are essentially relaxation right there in your pocket. 

TALK TO OTHERS AND SOCIALIZE

It could be a good idea to reconnect with old friends and family, or even make new pals around a hobby. Sharing quality time with others works wonders for your mental health. You can always find a caring and respectful space within the Kosmic Dust Community. Head to our social media to find other people with interests similar to yours.

In case you feel you might be experiencing a serious stress disorder, look for professional help immediately. Never underestimate the signs your body is trying to send!