Stress is one of the leading causes of pain, discomfort, and an unhealthy lifestyle. Further, stress is extremely common. With work, family, school, decision-making, and more, it’s difficult for many people to manage stress properly. However, it’s vital for anyone looking to stay healthy. In this blog post, Dr. Nathen Horst provides some tips on developing a stress management plan. To schedule a chiropractic appointment to reduce your stress, contact Horst Chiropractic in Temecula, CA today.

Identify What Is Causing Stress

The first tip for anyone looking to reduce stress is to identify the factors or triggers that cause your stress. This can be different for everyone. Patients should take the time to figure out what makes them feel stressed out so they know how to make adjustments. Try keeping a stress journal for a few weeks so you can pinpoint your triggers.

Adopt Healthy Habits

There are certain habits that increase the amount of cortisol in the brain and others that decrease it. People looking to decrease stress should also consider eating a healthy diet; limiting alcoholic beverages, sugar intake, caffeine intake; and quitting smoking entirely.

Get Enough Sleep

It’s a lot easier to cope with the stresses of life when people get enough sleep. People that load up on caffeine and overextend themselves will experience higher levels of stress. In order to decrease stress levels, people should take the time to get a full eight hours of sleep regularly. This will decrease cortisol levels and leave patients feeling better.

Get Moving

Exercise is one of the best cure-alls for stress. There are several ways to get moving. Of course, traditional running, swimming, and biking are great ways to get moving, but there are several other ways to get exercise. Individuals looking to decrease stress can find an activity that they like such as tennis, racquetball, basketball, dancing, or any other sport. It can also be something as simple as chasing the kids around the park or walking the dog. It’s not important how people exercise, it’s just important that they do.

Build Relationships

Feelings of loneliness can foster feelings of depression and stress. For individuals feeling stressed, it can be helpful to connect with a friend or family member. People can consider going on a fun outing, taking a walk with a friend, or talking to the family. The better relationships are, the less stress people will feel.

Learn to Say No

Some people are people pleasers and want to be able to do everything someone asks all of the time. This is just not always possible. It can often lead to people being overextended and unable to accomplish their everyday tasks. This causes stress. For people in this situation, take the time to say no. It will pay off in the long run.

For more information about chiropractic care, or to schedule an appointment with a chiropractor, contact Horst Chiropractic today. Our team is happy to answer any questions patients may have about adopting a stress management plan.