Reduce Stress: 7 Ways to Relax the Mind & Body
Reduce stress to immediately improve your quality of life. BeWellBuzz has 7 relaxation techniques to help you cope, manage, and reduce your stress overall.
If I were to ask you, “How would you rate your stress level?” what would you say? Today, we live in a non-stop world. Between deadlines, meetings, social media and the day-to-day responsibilities of our lives, it’s no wonder many people are feeling overwhelmed.
In small amounts, stress can be good to motivate you, but too much of it can be harmful to your health-—mind, body, and soul. The key is to schedule time for yourself—-aka “me time”—-to relieve stress and recharge your body.
As you take time—-even five minutes—-to unwind, here are seven ideas to help you relax.
1. Give back to the community
Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi once said, “If you’re feeling helpless, help someone.” This statement is also perfect for those who are feeling overwhelmed with stress. Sometimes, taking the attention off ourselves and helping someone else can do a lot to help you de-stress. This can be something as simple as volunteering a few hours each week or month for a cause or charity close to your heart. Take dinner to your elderly neighbor, pay for someone’s meal at a restaurant or send someone a card letting them know you’re thinking about them. In the end, even the littlest thing can mean the most.
2. Unplug from technology
Because we live in a world where we constantly are connected, taking time to unplug each day is important. Put down your phone, step away from your computer and leave those emails and social media accounts behind. Also, if you’re having difficulty sleeping, disconnect from your devices an hour before bedtime to let your brain settle. Technology is great, but if you’re stressing yourself out over it and not giving yourself breaks, you’re not doing yourself any favors.
3. Take up yoga
When you’re feeling stressed, hitting your mat and practicing “om” is a great way to connect with your inner calm. Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines various poses with controlled breathing, which can help you relax. While moving through your various poses and focusing on your breath, you can reduce stress and lower both your blood pressure and heart rate. For those starting out in yoga, Hatha is one style to try. This form of yoga is one of the more common ones and may be easier for those just starting out.
4. Hydrotherapy
An ancient practice, hydrotherapy, uses warm water to soothe aches and pains, reduce stress and improve your overall health. Take time each day to soak in a warm bath or hot tub and let the water help you relax. Add some aromatherapy to enhance the experience and allow your mind to let go of the stresses of the day.
5. Get some fresh air
When you’re feeling stressed out, getting out into nature can benefit you. Go for a walk around your neighborhood, grab your bike, jump in your swimming pool or go out into your garden. No matter what it is, getting some fresh air is a great way to let go of some of the stress. Another perk about getting outside? By spending some time out in nature, you can forget about your problems for a while or have a new idea/solution come to you. Sometimes, stepping away from the situation is the best thing you can do.
6. Buy a plant
According to a Washington State University study, being around plants can help reduce stress. In the study, researchers found stressed out people who entered a room with plants lowered their blood pressure by four points. Plants also can improve your concentration. Another study found office plants reduced carbon dioxide, which can cause drowsiness, headaches and a lack of concentration. In addition, flowers can boost creativity, ideas and problem solving.
7. Write down your gratitude
When you’re feeling stressed out, it’s easy to lose focus and forget all the little things in your life to be thankful for. Each night before you go to sleep, write down 10 things you’re grateful for in your life. This can include the driver who let you into the lane on your way to work, something nice your spouse did for you, a smile from a stranger or the simple fact you got through the day in one piece. The key is shifting your focus from what is not going your way to everything that is. The more you can be thankful in your life, the less stress you will feel because you aren’t focusing on the negative. Don’t let stress control your life. Take time each day to unwind and let go of the day’s stresses. In the end, by letting go of stress you’ll be happier and healthier—-mentally, physically, and spiritually.
