April A Month Dedicated To Stress Relief

Table Of Contents:

• Intro
• Causes of Stress
• Technology Induced Stress
• Ways To Relieve Stress
• Gamify
• Summary
• Shop Blog

Intro

Did you know that April is dedicated to stress relief? With stress being a worldwide epidemic, it’s crucial to take a step back and focus on our well-being. In this blog, we’ll explore the causes of stress and provide actionable tips to help you lead a more balanced, healthy, and stress-free life.

Are you excited to start this journey with me? We have 30 days in the month of April dedicated to stress relief. We’ll learn tips and tricks to decompress and I’ll share sites and apps for you to learn more from other resources. For starters be sure to sign up here https://www.stress.org , there’s a plethora of information on that site for you to gain knowledge on learning how to manage stress.

Causes Of Stress

WORK PRESSURE:

The demands of work can be overwhelming, leading to stress. Whether you’re a business owner, individual contributor or leader, there is always an element of stress related to work. Some businesses have more stress than others, but each is individual to the person and what triggers their stress level. It could be dealing with the public, or deadlines, it could be reporting to a bad boss or being the risk taker as an entrepreneur. Let’s face it, stress is part of work life, but how can we manage it? That’s really the key question. Here are some options for stress relief.

Actionable Tips:

1. Set clear boundaries between work and personal time. Setting clear boundaries helps balance your life. Prioritize and block off time on your calendar which is nonnegotiable.

2. Prioritize tasks and delegate when possible. Have conversations with people so you do not harbor resentment. Focus on the work or task at hand, not personal feelings that may be getting in the way.

3. Take short breaks throughout the day to recharge. It’s always a good idea to step away for your work throughout the day. The change of scenery gives your brain time to relax. Take a walk, sit in a quiet place, (even if your vehicle or restroom). Sometimes taking a 15 minute break of total silence, no phone, just to relax can help with stress relief.

FINANCIAL WORRIES:

Concerns about money can be a significant source of stress. Whether unexpected expenses arise or you or your significant other loses their job or becomes ill, need a new vehicle or expecting a child, financial stresses can arise even if you’ve planned and saved for them.

Finances are a sense of security and having a nest egg is the safety net, but sometimes, even the best plans can place us in stress just by having to tap into the savings. Understand this is part of life. You can always make back money.

• Actionable Tips:

• Create a budget to manage expenses to the best of your ability. Ask for help from family members if you need it.

• Seek advice from a financial advisor for long-term planning. Pay yourself first is the old tried but true statement.

• Practice mindful spending to avoid unnecessary purchases, especially during your temporary challenge.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS::

Conflicts or issues in personal relationships can lead to stress. Let’s face it not all marriages or relationships are perfect, friends will tick you off and neighbors can be unruly, That’s life. People will disappoint you and strangers will cut you off in traffic. It’s all a part of being alive, living in a family, community, society and workplace. What do you about it? It’s the silent stressors sometimes that sneak up on us.

• Actionable Tips:

• Communicate openly and honestly with loved ones. This is the easiest to fix. Have conversations so you can release what’s upsetting you. Most of the time it’s misunderstanding on some level. It’s not a matter of being right or wrong, just perspectives and honoring another’s point of view even if you agree to disagree.

• Seek support from a therapist or counselor if needed.

• Spend quality time with friends and family to strengthen bonds.

Technology Induced Stress

In today’s digital age, technology can be a double-edged sword. While it offers convenience and connectivity, it can also be a significant source of stress. Have you ever tried to log onto your computer and it won’t connect? Have you ever been knocked of a TEAMS or Zoom call? Have you ever tried to follow the steps to connect only to find out it doesn’t work? Have you tried to call a company for help only to be looped by an automated system? These are all stressors. Let’s talk about more of the silent stressors.

INFORMATION OVERLOAD

The constant influx of notifications, emails, and social media updates can be overwhelming. Whether you’re at work or home, the constant influx of information is with us 24/7. It can be our phone, the television, radio or notifications. The stress of being available to the intake of information or responses is a stressor. These daily factors definitely require stress relief actionable steps.

The Actionable Tips:

1. Set specific times to check your emails and notifications instead of constantly being on alert.

2. Use social media mindfully by limiting your time spent and curating your feed to include only positive content.

3. Turn off non-essential notifications to reduce distractions and buy and old fashioned alarm clock. Leave your phone outside of your bedroom..

THE PRESSURE TO BE ALWAYS AVAILABLE:

The expectation to be reachable and responsive at all times can lead to burnout. By being mindful of our technology, use, and setting boundaries, we can reduce the stress. It brings into our lives, and improve our overall well-being.

•Actionable Tips:

1. Establish clear boundaries for work and personal communication, and communicate these boundaries to others.
2. Schedule “unplugged” periods of time during your day to disconnect from technology.
3. Use ‘Do Not Disturb’ or airplane mode during these times to ensure you’re not disturbed.

Ways To Relieve Stress

EXERCISE:

Regular physical activity can reduce stress levels. This may seem obvious, but most people don’t act on it. Just walking outside and getting away from a stressful encounter helps with reducing stress. Even if you’re not stressed, walking or doing some sort of physical exercise actually gives the brain a chance to do something else. It allows you to focus on the activity instead of thoughts and feelings. April month of stress relief is actually a great month in post places to start going outdoors because the weather is changing as it’s spring.

• Actionable Tips:

1. Incorporate a 30-minute walk into your daily routine.

2.Try yoga or meditation to calm your mind.

3. Join a fitness class to stay motivated and socialize.

MINDFULNESS:

Practicing mindfulness can help you stay present and reduce stress. So what is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the act of stopping your brain and thoughts from racing. It’s the act of practicing being in the now. It’s the act of being grateful in the moment. It takes you away from what you’re facing that’s causing you stress and allows you the ability to recalibrate your senses. Some call it a state of Zen. Monks tend to stay in this state as to not allow any outside energy to detach them from the oneness with nature and God in the present moment. Mindfulness is a powerful stress relief practice.

• Actionable Tips:

1, Start your day with a 10-minute meditation session.

2. Practice deep breathing exercises when feeling overwhelmed.

3. Keep a gratitude journal to focus on the positives.

HOBBIES:

Engaging in hobbies can provide a creative outlet and reduce stress. Engaging in hobbies is actually a form of meditation and prayer. How? Because again when you’re experiencing the joy of a hobby you mind is in the moment, in the task and it’s where you want to be. It’s doing what you want to do, the thing you enjoy. It places you in the now. Every time we’re in the now, appreciating what is and knowing everything is perfecting fine int his very moment, it can calm you and reassure.

• Actionable Tips:

1. Dedicate time each week to hobby you enjoy. Place this on your calendar and make it a nonnegotiable time slot solely for you.

2. Explore new activities that interest you.

3, Share your hobby with friends, or join a community with similar interests.

Tea Time

Did you know the mere act of preparing a cup of tea is calming? Drinking green tea provides many benefits at a cellular level which detoxifies and reduces stress. Holding a warm cup of tea also has a calming effect on the body. If you’re looking for a new stress relief option for the month of April, start by drinking a cup a tea daily.

VIDEO COURTESY OF ARBONNE (I DO NOT OWN THIS VIDEO CREDIT TO ORIGINAL OWNER)

Arbonne teas are full of nutritional value. CleanDetox tea has benefits of cleansing toxins from your body and DreamTea helps calm the mind. Give them a try. They taste delicious and by adding fizz to tea for a “tizzy” you get the additional vitamin benefits. Tea time or TIZZY time is a great takeaway from April a month dedicated to stress relief game changer you can start today.

Lighting Candles

Lighting candles can offer a sense of calmness. The fragrance of a candle and the softness of the flickering flame can visually calm the mind. Try to incorporate candles in your space and lift them or if electric, turn them on for a calming effect. You might be pleasantly surprised by the shift in your energy when you pay attention to it when you are in need of stress relief and lighting candles as a practice to shift your energy.

Bath Time

Taking baths is a wonderful way to calm yourself. If you have trouble falling asleep or are anxious, run the bath water, make a cup of tea, light some candles, get some bubble bath and soak in a warm tub for a while. Turn on soft music and just relax. Focus on being in the tub, your breath, the bubbles or flame of the candle. Don’t let your mind take you to the thoughts that are stressing you, just focus on the here and now in the tub.

Gamify

What do I mean by gamify? Remember playing games? Do you play any type of game? I don’t mean on your phone, I mean the old fashioned games with people or with a deck or cards? There is a lot of value in playing card games and games in general. If you’re looking for stress relief go game shopping!

What games to I play? I play cards, I love a deck of cards, or spiritual cards of wisdom.

Music is also a great resource to reduce stress. Listening to a song, dancing or humming along again takes you away from the stress into another realm of thinking and doing that shifts the brain.

SUMMARY

Stress is an inevitable part of life, but it doesn’t have to control us. By understanding the causes of stress and implementing these actionable tips, we can cultivate a more balanced enjoyable life. I hope you implement many of the suggestions of this blog to enhance the quality of your life and reduce your stress. The easiest tip of all that I’ve used myself is turning off all non-essential notification, daily walks and deep breathing. Although I do incorporate the suggestions of this blog, those have helped me significantly. I also have an alarm clock from the 1980’s! It’s still running. 🙂

April is a month dedicated to stress relief and why I wrote this blog for you. Try new practices this month and see which work best for you. When you find your calming source, continue using it throughout the year to help with stress relief. Let’s face it, everyone has stress, it’s how we process situations and the more we can control our reactions, thoughts and calmness to evaluate the situation, we will live our best lives!

Please tag me on social media and let me know how the tips from this blog have served you. I look forward to your posts.

Shop The Blog

*I am an affiliate marketer and may be paid a slight commission on items posted in this blog which has no effect on consumer pricing.

My intention for this blog post is to provide you with tools and ideas to help reduce your stress. Remember stress is being in your mind, worrying about the past or anxiety of the future. Stay in the present moment when you’re feeling stressed. Breathe, go for a walk, make a cup of tea or try any of the recommendations of this blog or choose whatever calms you personally. The goal is for you to notice you’re stressed and take actions to limit it and return to calmness.

Much love for you!