It’s always going to be inevitable: life will pile on in certain seasons of life and make it difficult or sometimes impossible to keep moving forward in life. You aren’t alone in all of these changes and how life piles things on.
There are ways that you can help yourself without having to take on negative habits. This will 100% take effort and time, so be prepared to set aside time for yourself. Let’s touch on some of the ways that you can build stress tolerance and help mitigate what life throws at you!
Always find laughter
In the darkest of times, laughter will light the way. I know it can be hard to laugh in the middle of something difficult. I know. Here’s the thing: laughter helps release endorphins, which are natural ways of killing pain and, more importantly, boosting your mood.
When in the middle of stress, the last thing you are going to think of is boosting your mood. Most of the time, you are probably just going to be concerned with getting through the stressful situation. Instead of sitting in stress, find a moment to watch or listen to something that makes you laugh.
Social media
Finding something ridiculous or easy to laugh at is easier than ever to gain access to. Social media has put laughter and incredulity at your fingertips. While most suggest staying off social media, hop right on there in the middle of stress! Look up popular tags or something with the word “funny” in it and see what pops up. Something that used to help me was watching foreign comedy shows full of slapstick comedy. It’s so ridiculous you can’t help but laugh!
Comedians
Not a fan of comedies? Well, you need to at least find a comedian that you enjoy. There’s something therapeutic about knowing that the person on the screen has gone through similar issues or has experienced difficulty and still finds ways to make people laugh. Major streaming services often have comedic specials or even whole genres dedicated to comedy. Remember, comedians spend their lives working on how to make people laugh and help pull them through some of the toughest times in their lives.
Give yourself a break
This probably sounds impossible right now. How can I give myself a break when I have everything to deal with right now? That’s the thing. You have to carve out time for yourself to check in mentally and ensure that you are at least okay enough to keep going.
A break also provides you with the time to assess if you need to ask for help or not. Of course, asking for help is never a weakness and is highly suggested if you feel like you can’t give yourself even an hour to rest. If you have the opportunity, take at least an hour on the weekends to do something that recharges you. Even the bare minimum will help you build stress tolerance and also make sure that you are okay to continue into the next week.
Support your immune system
Sometimes we get so caught up in outside influences that we forget the way that our internal systems affect our stress tolerance. As you can see in this blog post by Aequil, there are several ways to support your immune system with herbal supplements, and also several practices that you can undertake in order to support your immune system from deep within.
There are plenty of immune support supplements out there, but it is unwise to start taking all of them. That will overload your body and can result in drastic measures that may send you to the hospital. Talk to your doctor about natural remedies and do your research.
Additionally, you need to make sure that you have a good sleep schedule and that you are staying active as much as possible. This is going to help with the levels of cortisol and your stress responses in the long run. Life will pile on regardless, but only you can make the choices needed to support your immune system.
Utilise your support team
This is one of the hardest things to do, especially if you are particularly independent or in the middle of focusing on what is going on in your life. Humans are built to be social creatures, and we require assistance from our support team to either provide comfort, a sounding board, or just ten minutes of venting.
The people in your life that you trust most are more often than not going to be your support team. They know you best and can adjust on a whim to what you need. Don’t neglect this team, as stress tolerance is also about building relationships that are symbiotic.
Final thoughts
Stress will be with you always, but the way you handle it is up to you. Remember these strategies as life piles on, and you will definitely be able to take steps forward even when life throws everything at you!
Adam Mulligan, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
