Stress is a fact of life. The key to reducing the unhealthy and aging effects of stress is identifying its causes and implementing positive coping techniques. It is vital to aging well to reduce your symptoms and manage their effect in healthy ways. Taking proactive steps to integrate healthy lifestyle choices into your routine will boost your resiliency.
Effects of Stress
Stress symptoms may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think illness is to blame for that irritating headache, your frequent insomnia, or your decreased productivity, but stress may actually be the cause. Symptoms can affect your body, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Ongoing stress can contribute to various health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Other common effects include upset stomach, muscle tension, lack of focus, feeling overwhelmed, social withdrawal, and sleep problems. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can help you manage them.
Strategies to Manage Stress
You can benefit your health by managing your symptoms. Here are a few tips from Mayo Clinic:
- Get regular physical activity
- Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, tai chi, or massage
- Keep a sense of humor and find joy within your day
- Spend time with family and friends
- Set aside time for hobbies you enjoy such as reading and listening to music
Going Forward
You do not need to wait until stress has a negative impact on your life to take action. You can incorporate
stress relieving activities to enhance your quality of life today. Navigating the range of stressors in our lives takes effort and many are outside our ability to influence or control. Learning to embrace life’s uncertainties is paramount to minimizing the impact of the stress of aging on your health and well-being.