5 Surefire Ways To Relieve Stress And Feel Better
Do you sometimes find yourself overwhelmed with emotional stress? I know I do. In today’s hectic lifestyle, many people have to figure out ways to relieve stress and manage multiple stressful situations, such as a demanding career, personal relationships, family obligations, financial worries and health issues, not to mention mundane situations such as house chores, caring for children and morning traffic…
Here are 5 proven ways for dealing with stress and re-claiming your much needed peace of mind.
Relaxation and Breathing
People often forget that relaxation is an important part of our healthy lifestyle. Take 20 minutes every day to sit quietly, clearing your head of any negative thoughts. Take a deep breath and relax your muscles – from your facial muscles down to your toes.
Breathe slowly and steadily through your nose. Count 5 seconds while you intake, hold your breath for 2 more seconds, and slowly exhale through your mouth while counting 6 seconds. Do it 5 to 10 times in a row until you feel loosen up. Repeat it several times a day.
Light and sound are very important to your relaxation. Dimming the lights and putting on calming music (or running water) is a great way to reduce stress while doing the breathing exercise.
Laughter
Laughter is a fun way to relieve stress. A healthy laugh is very powerful in reducing stress from our daily activities. Laughter is as powerful as a stress relieving medicine.
Watch a funny TV show, or better yet, go to a local comedy club and you might catch a big name stand up comedian doing a live show. Laughter is a very viral and social act, and you will be more likely to “catch the virus” when being around other people laughing.
Exercise
Physical exercise is a great way to relieve stress. Even a slow walk in the fresh air increases your heart rate and your blood pressure and releases endorphins which are the body’s natural chemicals that reduce anxiety and make you feel better. Commit to any sort of physical activity at least 2-3 times a week.
You can go to the gym, work out at home or start swimming (remember the calming effect of water?). Relaxed exercise such as Yoga, Tai-Chi and meditation also helps to regain your inner peace, increase your concentration and distracts your mind from daily stress.
Sleep
A healthy rest can help reduce your daily stress level. Try to get at least 7 hours of a good night sleep. Getting to bead early and waking up early can also make you fell better. Even a power-nap of 5-10 minutes during the day can help.
Healthy eating
Stressed out people tend to skip meals. Try to eat only healthy food and keep your meals at regular hours. Green tea helps to reduce stress and is also full of antioxidants (which are great for your overall health).
Make a habit of dressing for dinner (even at home), lighting candles and playing soft, relaxing music in the background.
It is almost impossible to completely eliminate stress from our lives. Take short breaks from your daily activities, read a book, think positive thoughts and play around with your kids, your pets or your friends.
These may seem like simple ways to relieve stress, but remember that often in life; the simple ways are the most effective.
