Stress is basically when one is in a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from demanding circumstances. Since the mind is very powerful, it can also affect the physical when we are stressed. There are various circumstances that can result in some of us being stressed out, for example; having to study long hours or being nervous about an exam, worried about a project or your job, being a mum taking care of a new born or toddler, parents who have to think of ways or work more than two jobs to provide for the family and there are so many other circumstances that can be stress related.
Being stressed is not good for our health and mental being. There are techniques or ways we could use to help us relieve ourselves from stressful lives. Sometimes the cause of your anxiety or stress level may not disappear but some techniques could help you relax, clear your mind and deal with situations better.
10 ways which we could use to relax from stress are such as;
1) Meditation - A few minutes of meditation a day can help reduce stress. It could be done as yoga practice and is quite simple. Sit up, close your eyes, focus your mind on a positive picture or recite out loudly or silently a positive mantra such as ‘I am at Peace’, ‘everything would be sorted’, ‘I am blessed’, and so on for a few minutes. Let any distractive thoughts float by like clouds, clear your mind and focus only on positivity.
2) Massage - you could go for a professional massage at a spa or you could do it yourself by trying out a hand massage for relaxation. Hand massages can be helpful for people who write or type a lot. The process can also help to calm a heart beating at a faster rate. Applying lotion and massaging the hands or any part of the body of interest is a good relaxation technique.
3) Stress Balls - these are usually small soft balls. You could get a stress ball for yourself and whenever you are feeling anxious, get the ball out and squeeze it for a few minutes. It would help you relax and get your mind off a few worrying things.
4) Get some Sleep - Sleep is definitely good, it does not have to be a whole day but a few hours or minutes sleep could help you relax when you are feeling stressed. So when you find yourself getting tensed, you could sleep or just take a short nap, once you are awake, you would most likely be able to think more clearly.
5) Get Organized - being disorganised or having clutter in your working or thinking space could make you stressed out. Take a few minutes a day to organise your workspace so as to have a clear idea of where each item is and leaving what you need most close by, organise room or plan for the day so as not to have too many appointments close together. A good plan or organisation of your activities would help reduce your stress level.
6) Exercise - Standing up for a quick stretch can help relieve muscle tension and keep you relaxed. Exercising be it a mild or intense routine, going to the gym etc. can help us release stress and make our bodies and mind less tensed.
7) Take a Holiday/Vacation - Take a break from work or anything giving you stress and travel out to your preferred destination. Relaxing by the pool/beach, sleeping on a soft hotel bed or sheets, watching a good show, going to an amusement park , having a good laugh and some more activities, can help you relax and free your mind from stressful thoughts.
8) Write it down - Sometimes writing how we feel on paper can make our issues seem less intimidating and be a form of relaxation. Whenever you are feeling worried about a situation, you could start by writing it down, you would begin to feel a bit more relaxed and just maybe the solution or ideas on how to solve your problem may come to your mind.
9) Music and Dance - When you are feeling stressed, listen to that favourite song, that ‘feel good’ song you love that would help you change your mind to positive thoughts and reduce your stressful thoughts. You could also have more fun and dance to the music to make you feel more relaxed.
10) Aromatherapy - This is the use of aromatic plants or essential oils to heal. Sometimes sniffing products with a pleasant and distinctive smell such as flowers, essential oils and so on, could help you relieve stress by stimulating smell receptors in the nose that connect to the part of the brain that helps in regulating emotions. A good smell would most likely send out a good signal to the brain which would result in you having good feelings and being less stressed.
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