Breaking the Stress Cycle

Stress is quite common in us all and we are likely to experience it at work. In circumstances like work, the stress cycle can easily be triggered so you need to find a way of dealing with this. This is because when the brain recognises these triggers, it will go into panic mode. Hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline surge which prepare you for action. 

The sad thing is that many people are constantly in a low level of stress, which can leave them feeling fatigued, irritable, unfocused and even emotionally drained. 

How Stress Builds up Over Time

Long-term stress doesn’t just randomly appear; it can grow quietly in the back of your mind. You’ll notice physical symptoms such as tight muscles, headaches, digestive discomfort and even interrupted sleep. These will often appear before your mental signs and these will constantly reinforce that stress cycle. Feeling in this state can lead to a decrease in productivity and motivation, which often creates more stress and keeps the stress cycle active. 

Interrupting the Cycle

Breaking the stress cycle doesn’t happen accidentally either. You need to intentionally interrupt it and one of the best ways would be through movement. This can be anything from stretching, a short walk, and light exercise can all help you escape this cycle. Additionally, consider deep breathing exercises to slow down your heart rate and reduce physiological tension. 

Something else that you can do is set yourself boundaries. Technology can cause stress so consider getting rid of this. Additionally, reduce your notifications and stop setting unrealistic expectations in life. All you need to do is create tech-free periods, schedule breaks from life and have work limits. 

Complete a Stress Free Response

Interrupting the process is only half of it; the body needs a full response to this emotion. What this means is that you need to give your body closure to return to a calm baseline. Activities such as journaling, talking to a friend/family member, creating a hobby such as learning the guitar and even laughing can all help complete the cycle. 

Developing healthy routines is very important such as consistent sleep, balanced eating, and mindful transitions between activities will help the reset. 

Choose Healthier Paths Going Forward

To break the cycle, you shouldn’t look for quick fixes. This can be anything from smoking a cigarette to drinking alcohol. These will relieve the stress, but only temporarily. Consider healthier alternatives, such as nicopods from Pods and Pouches. Additionally, you should look for something more long-term and effective such as breathing exercises or yoga. 

Understand daily practices such as mindfulness, conversations with more supportive people and even light movement to distract your mind from this stress. Over time, this will benefit you and help you break the cycle of stress. 

To Conclude

There are a number of things that can cause people to feel stressed. The most important thing that you can do is to identify what makes you feel stressed and then find coping mechanisms for those. Remember, find solutions that will benefit you over the long term rather than short-term fixes.