Stress and Ways to Manage It

Donna Nichols • September 9, 2024
A person is holding wooden cubes with the words less stress written on them.

What is stress? Stress is a state of worry or mental tension caused by a demanding situation. It is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. But the way we respond to stress makes a significant difference to our overall well-being (who.int).

 

How does stress affect us? Stress affects both the mind and the body. A little bit of stress is good and can help us perform daily activities. Too much stress can cause physical and mental health problems, such as headache, sleeping troubles, feeling unwell or lack of focus at work. Uncontrolled stress can lead to more serious issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes.

 

We must all find ways to manage our stress, and medication isn’t always the answer. There are many ways to help manage your stress that do not involve medication. You might think that you are destressing and relaxing while watching TV or playing a video game, but did you know those make your stress go up over time? Those are examples of idle time; they don’t get you moving; therefore, you’re not releasing the endorphins needed to relieve those nasty stress bugs!

 

Some healthy ways to fight stress are:

 

1.    Get regular exercise as many days as you can. Exercise helps you feel more relaxed, and it also helps you sleep better. Regular exercise releases the endorphins that combat stress and aid in elevating your mood.


2.    Try relaxation techniques; deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or get regular massages. Deep breathing lowers your heart rate and blood pressure and increases your oxygen intake. Meditation can help by allowing you to focus on your breathing and forgetting about the hectic day you may have had. Yoga calms your mind and releases stress through the various poses and stretches. Massages are good for everything! You must practice deep breathing when you are having a massage and your entire body relaxes, so a massage is always an effective way to de-stress.


3.    Maintain a sense of humor. Laughter helps with everything; if you can laugh at yourself, then you can laugh at anything. Laughing releases those endorphins again which helps reduce your stress and improve your mood.


4.    Spend quality time with friends and family. Friends and family can offer a place to share your thoughts and concerns. Sometimes all you need is an ear to listen to what is going on and having someone you can confide in is a wonderful way to get things off your shoulders. They can also remind you how special and important you are.


5.    Read a book, listen to music, or go for a walk. These are more ways to relax and lose yourself for a while. Get lost in your book or your music; take that walk and make it a little longer each time.


6.    Set aside some time to write in a journal. Try to write something each day. Write about what stressed you out; go back to it after about a week or so and see if you are having the same triggers. If so, see what you can do to change things to remove that trigger.


7.    Make sure you get plenty of sleep. You get stressed so much easier when you’re tired. You feel that nothing is going right, and you could just curl up and go to sleep. Try to get 7 – 8 hours of sleep each night.


8.    Try to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Eating a lot of junk food will cause your blood pressure to go up, which causes your stress level to increase. Please try to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet to maintain a healthier stress level and blood pressure level too. I’m not saying you can’t splurge and have that burger or ice cream every now and then, just in moderation.


9.    Stay away from alcohol and drugs. Drugs and alcohol only make us numb and put us in a state of depression, which what? You got it, increases our stress! Stay away from them! You can have the social drink or two, but don’t drink to forget your problems, they will only be enhanced by the alcohol or drug.



10. Stay away from the TV news. Watching the news on TV these days is enough to stress anyone out; just don’t do it! Watch a game show, or a comedy; remember laughter helps release those endorphins!!!

 

You can manage your stress without medication. Just making some minor changes in your life can make a big difference! If you are a caregiver and need ways to cope, we at Assisted Living Made Simple hold 4 Alzheimer’s caregiver support groups a month. If you’re trying to cope with the grief of a loved one, we have two grief support groups a month. If you need to find placement for elderly loved ones, we can assist you with that as well. Just give us a call on 386-847-2322 to learn more about our services, which are all free!

 


Hitting pause is the importance of pausing to manage stress.

The Heart of Guidance: The Role of a Senior Advisor in Elder Care

By Donna Nichols • September 5, 2025
In a world that often moves too fast, senior advisors offer something rare and essential: time, understanding, and a steady hand. Unlike their counterparts in the business world, senior advisors in elder care aren’t focused on profit margins—they’re focused on people. Who They Are Senior advisors in this space are often seasoned professionals, caregivers, or community advocates who help older adults and their families navigate complex decisions. They may work in senior living communities, nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, or independently. What They Do • Guide families through transitions: Whether it's choosing assisted living or downsizing a home, senior advisors help make sense of it all. • Advocate for dignity and autonomy: They ensure that older adults’ voices are heard and respected in every decision. • Connect to resources: From transportation and wellness programs to Alzheimer’s and grief support, they know where to turn. • Offer emotional support: Sometimes, the most valuable thing they offer is a listening ear and a calming presence. Why It Matters A senior advisor isn’t just a resource—they’re a lifeline. They help families breathe easier, empower older adults to make informed choices, and bring compassion into moments that can feel overwhelming. If you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds like me,” you’re not alone. Many of us play this role informally, answering questions, calming nerves, and connecting dots. Whether you’re a professional advisor or a trusted neighbor, your presence makes a difference.  If you or someone you love is facing a big decision and could use a calm, caring guide—we’re here. No pressure, no jargon, just real people ready to help. Call us today on 386-847-2322 to start the conversation. Sometimes, the first step is simply knowing you’re not alone.

Grandparents Day: A Celebration of Heart, Humor & Heritage

By Donna Nichols • September 4, 2025
September brings a quiet kind of magic—the golden light, the hint of fall in the air, and a moment to honor the everyday heroes who’ve shaped our lives with love, laughter, and legendary stories: our grandparents. Whether you’re a grandparent yourself, a grateful grandchild, or someone who’s been “adopted” by a wise elder in your life, Grandparents Day is a chance to pause and celebrate the beautiful bridge between generations. What Makes Grandparents So Grand? • They’re walking history books—with tales of jukeboxes, moon landings, and the original recipe for Sunday gravy. • They’re master cheerleaders, showing up with hugs, cookies, and the kind of encouragement that sticks for life. • They’re wisdom whisperers, offering advice that somehow makes more sense with each passing year. And let’s be honest: they’ve also got the best one-liners, the quirkiest traditions, and the uncanny ability to make you feel like the most important person in the room. A Legacy of Love Grandparents teach us that love doesn’t have to be loud to be lasting. It’s in the quiet gestures: the handwritten birthday card, the saved newspaper clipping, the way they remember your favorite snack or ask about that thing you mentioned weeks ago. They remind us that resilience is built over time—through hard work, humor, and a whole lot of heart. Their stories carry lessons we didn’t know we needed until we suddenly find ourselves living them. And for those who’ve lost a grandparent, this day can be bittersweet. But it’s also a chance to honor their memory—by sharing their stories, cooking their favorite dish, or simply whispering a thank-you into the September breeze. Celebrate with Us: A Little Fun for the Big Day This Grandparents Day, we invite you to:  • Share a memory: What’s one moment with a grandparent that still makes you smile? • Send a shoutout: Post a photo or quote from your favorite grandparent on social media and tag us.

Honoring Our Elders: National Senior Citizens Day

By Donna Nichols • August 14, 2025
On August 21, we pause to celebrate the heartbeat of our communities—our senior citizens. This day isn’t just about marking a date on the calendar. It’s about recognizing the wisdom, resilience, and warmth that older adults bring to every conversation, every gathering, and every generation. Wisdom That Lights the Way From stories of first jobs and family traditions to lessons learned through love and loss, seniors carry a lifetime of insight. Their experiences are more than memories—they’re guideposts for those still finding their way. Today, we honor those stories and the voices behind them. Connection That Matters Whether it’s a neighborly wave, a shared recipe, or a quiet moment on the porch, seniors remind us that connection doesn’t need fanfare—it just needs heart. National Senior Citizens Day is a chance to say, “We see you. We value you. We’re better because of you.” Ways to Celebrate Host a storytelling circle or memory-sharing event Share a favorite photo and the story behind it Create a “Senior Spotlight” wall with quotes and wisdom Invite younger generations to learn a skill from a senior (gardening, baking, crafting) Spend time—listen, laugh, and learn A Day of Gratitude Let’s make August 21 a day of genuine appreciation. Whether you’re a senior yourself or someone lucky enough to know and love one, take a moment to reflect on the richness they bring to our lives. Their legacy is living, breathing, and beautifully unfolding every day.  This is a day to be celebrated every day! Senior citizens bring so much fulfillment to our lives, and we need to embrace the moments we spend with them, for they are precious.