Stress is a big factor in everyone’s life. It shouldn’t be something you experience all day, every day. Instead, it should be something that you learn how to manage effectively, so you can live a happier, more fulfilling life.
What many people don’t realise is that sometimes their efforts to reduce stress are making it worse. When you are stressed, you trigger your nervous system. This is a normal part of life, but if you keep doing it or stay prolonged, then it will lead to complex health issues.
To help you on your journey, it can be important to understand what mistakes are common when it comes to stress relief, so you can avoid them and help your body, mind and health.
#1 Staying too positive
Being positive can be great advice, but sometimes there needs to be a balance. A positive mindset can help when you get lots of negative thoughts with no substance. However, toxic positivity can be counterproductive. When you pretend everything is okay, you are not dealing with the issues and only burying them, which can make your stress worse in the long term.
#2 Replacing one stressor with another
Sometimes people think that it is best to have a complete overhaul and take everything they think is bad away. For example, when it comes to quitting smoking, many will opt for cold turkey without introducing any support in their life, which can make the process stressful and overwhelming in itself. If you want to make a shift like that, consider replacing it with something less intense, such as vaping. Many find this more enjoyable, especially when you can choose a new vape juice.
#3 Believing that rest is lazy
One huge mistake across the whole of society is the belief that resting is lazy. This is a very big misconception that is making people more stressed than they need to be. You either won’t rest because it is seen as lazy, or you will try to rest but stress yourself out by calling yourself lazy. It is a lose-lose situation. True recovery – that includes physical, mental and emotional recovery – is a core pillar of relaxation and productivity. Pushing through might make you feel good, but there will be long-term consequences. You must learn how to rest fully and recover.
#4 Distractions that are unhealthy
Distractions are a great way to relieve stress. You might find that an hour on the sofa watching your favourite show is helpful when it comes to stress. However, sometimes there is an overreliance on distractions, which begins to lose its effectiveness. In some cases, it can go too far and cause you more stress. For example, you might find scrolling on social media relaxing, but instead, it is overstimulating, you are consumed by too much content, you compare yourself to others, it impacts your sleep, and you find you can’t get off it.
Stress is harmful to your health. Make sure you avoid these mistakes when trying to relieve your stress.
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