Each generation carries  their own experiences and different frames of mind. Those conceived somewhere in the range of 1946 and 1964 are the guardians of the Millennial age.

People born after WW2 rebelled against ethical norms and following strict societal rules. Women’s liberation, looser sexual ethics and hostility towards war were some of those ways of rebellion. What mark will millennials leave in history?

The Millennial Generation, or those conceived from around 1980 to 2000, have a completely new set of stressors. We’ve also got war to worry about. Tensions between law enforcement and civilians has never been higher or more dangerous.

Millennial Stress

We are strapped for cash and not always set for success due to odds against us such as high cost of living and underemployment. We grew up with the reality that our country can be turned upside down, including our safety and smart phones have taken over our brains leaving us paralyzed zombies, sometimes neglecting important things we have to do.

This is just to name a few. What are millennials frames of mind and how does stress play into their lives?

Millennials Strengths

Millennials are very knowledgable, innovative, insightful, self-assured and go-getters, if I do say so myself!

They are also exceptionally reliant on each others success and not afraid to work together to achieve success. They have the advantage of utilizing web-based means of doing so as well as in person contact.

But what does having access to all of these ways of communicating mean for millennial stress levels? The latest research has found that Generation Millennial is truly Generation Stress. Across generations, Stress in America™ survey findings show Millennials  report an average stress level of 5.4 on a 10-point scale where 1 is “little or no stress” and 10 is “a great deal of stress.”

Millennials also added that stress keeps them wakeful during the evening and they feel a lot of uncertainty about their future.

As a result of rising stress levels, millennials experience the ill effects of stress and uneasiness. They will, in general, take this stress out on family and companions.

Their stress levels also place them at risk for medical problems such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

However, despite this unsettling news for Millennials, knowledge is power.

Knowing how to combat stress can help us become more productive and increase our ability to problem solve and think clearly. Here are some ways to manage stress.

1. Belly Breathe

Diaphragmatic breathing is a type of a breathing exercise that helps strengthen your diaphragm, an important muscle that helps you breathe. Diaphragmatic breathing is also sometimes called belly breathing. Most individuals inhale incorrectly (shallow, chest breaths) and this fundamentally impacts our stress and nervousness levels.

Figuring out how to midsection inhale (breathing into your lower body) activates your vagus nerve, helping you move out of the fight and flight frame of mind and into relaxation. Belly breathing, rather than breathing from your chest, sends signs to your mind that you’re protected and can deal with whatever the stressor.

The best part is belly breathing is something you can do anyplace, whenever. Utilizing belly breathing throughout periods of high stress enables you to quiet her brain and settle on better choices.

Stare down and ensure your belly is moving in and out to do a proper belly breath. Try breathing in for 4 counts and breathing out for 4 counts for 5 minutes total. Once your heart rate slows down enjoy the gift of clarity.

2.   Journal Your Thoughts.

When we feel stressed and restless, our mind is in overdrive It can feel ike our mind is and ca a mile a minute. It is difficult to focus and complete one task at a time. Journaling your thoughts begins activating your pre-frontal cortex (the CEO part of the cerebrum… discerning reasoning) and in doing this, this quiets the amygdala (passionate focus).

When we’re feeling on edge, the cerebrum interprets this as danger. Journaling truly helps process and realign our thoughts, helping you focus on what to do next to accomplish your goals, however big or small.

Don’t worry about writing intelligibly or proper use of grammar. Simply allow a free flow of thoughts and let your pen fly on the paper or your fingers on the keyboard. You may be surprised and what you write after allowing a free flow of ideas. You will undoubtably feel some relief freeing your thoughts from your mind.

3.   Lean On Each Other

I previously stated millennials are good at leaning on each other. The same goes for those who are stressed. Be sure to reach out to a friend and either take your mind off of your stress or talk it out to hear a different point of view. You can even join social media groups to specifically manage stress.

Your peers could offer some valuable insight as to how they manage their stress that you may find useful. Don’t be afraid to reach out yourself and ask others for opinions on how to handle what is currently stressing you. People who belong to these groups are a very thoughtful community who love to offer their opinion and share their success stories.

4. Take Control

Take control of your stress by chipping away at it. Write down a list of the mounting problems you feel you need to fix and tackle them one by one. Look at each stressful situation independently and determine what can be changed. Is the actual situation causing you stress impossible or are you overwhelmed and convincing yourself the problem cannot be solved?

A good way to manage stress is enhancing your people skills and conflict resolutions strategies. For example, lets say people in your life are mad at you lately for snapping at them too often. You could choose to say, “This is just the way I am,” or you can decide how you want to lessen this behavior. Consider a course of action and stick with it.

For instance, let’s say you decide I’m going to take a deep breath and walk away if I feel I may snap on someone when I’m stressed.

Be sure to let people know you are working on your anger and may walk away if you feel you cannot control it in the moment and you will come back when you have calmed down. The plan is out there and so now you are in a better position to follow through.

If your stress seems to be controlling you more than you are able to control it, you may want to seek out a therapist to guide you in the process.

By identifying the source of stress in your life and identifying healthy ways to deal with it, you can control your stress.

Find something that works for you and practice this everyday. By doing so, you will be on the road to a life of less stress.

What works for you?