Experts say that women can be at a higher risk of stress because they tend to multi-task. “Women are led to believe that they have to multi-task – be an achiever at work and a supermom at home. Women have to be everything and that takes its toll on health,” says Dr. JR Ram, a Kolkata-based psychiatrist. So if you feel that you are a great multitasker, chances are you could also be reeling under some adverse effects of stress.
Signs of stress
Some of the glaring physical symptoms involve frequent headaches, muscle tension or pain, dizziness, disrupted sleep patterns, fatigue and eating too much or too little. You may also suffer from breathing problems, indigestion, stomach problems and sweating. Your behavior might also indicate that you are under stress. For instance, you can feel irritated all the time, you tend to snap at people, you can feel dejected and prone to crying. You may constantly have anxiety attacks and find it hard to focus on important tasks. Your head might seem crowded with a lot of irrational thoughts. You may also be keeping to yourself and avoiding the company. What’s more, your self-esteem may nosedive and you may be prone to anger outbursts. If you are spotting even some of these symptoms, it’s time to check your stress levels and do something about them.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle
Needless to say, ensuring a healthy, active lifestyle can go a long way in reducing stress. If we eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and ensure a minimum 8-hour sleep, our body will be better equipped to handle stress. Experts say you do not need to immediately go for a rigorous gym routine. Start with the basics such as walking, free hand exercises and swimming first:
Walking
Start with brisk walking every morning. If you can go for a walk in the morning, make a routine for your evenings as well. Experts say that daily walking in the midst of nature is a great stress-buster. If you have a green jogger's park in your neighborhood, you are lucky!
Yoga
Says Soham Bose, a yoga expert, and trainer, "Modern medical system treats the disease and not the patient. Therein lies the problem. What we need is a system that does not have any side effects, is holistic, mentally uplifting and emotionally stabilizing. What can this system be? The answer is yoga."
He adds, "When we say yoga, we do not mean the headstand pose or turning the body into a pretzel or something very tiring or complicated. We suggest only a few very simple practices to remove day-to-day stress."
Foods that fight stress
Avoid junk food at all costs. Eat healthy food that includes a lot of green vegetables and lean proteins. Nutritionists and dieticians strongly recommend the following stress-busting foods like walnuts, berries, avocado, asparagus, spinach, cashews. green tea and oatmeals.
Work-life balance
Do you find yourself at work almost 24/7? Is your family complaining that you are bringing work home and cutting down on quality time with your family members? Save work-day hours- Don't be surprised if we tell you to take breaks from breaks! Cut down on long breaks during the day so that you can finish work fast and spend more time with family and friends.
Vacation: Don't put your holiday plans on the backburner for work. Work smartly and save days for a planned vacation. You need to take off to faraway places at times just to de-stress.
Only connect: Pick a hobby after work. Say, dancing. Google your interest and find options for learning a new thing. Try to look for a group that shares your interests on social media and connect with its members.