Things will always stress you out, from the mundane to the catastrophic. True, you can’t always choose what happens to you in your life, but you can choose your attitude about it, which is why being less stressed is always possible. The problem is that when stress builds up to the point where it interferes with daily life, it can be harmful. This is why it’s so important to have access to stress-relieving activities that work on both the mind and the body. Read on to find out what some of them are.
Take A Walk
When things start to get on top of you, and you feel as though you’re at breaking point, one of the best things you can do is go for a walk – no matter what the weather (just dress appropriately if it’s cold or wet).
Not only will this take you away from the stressful situation (which is always recommended), but it will also help to release endorphins into your body. These chemicals will boost your mood and make you feel less stressed. When you get back to whatever it was you were doing, you’ll feel much calmer and hopefully more productive.
Talk To Someone
They say that a problem shared is a problem halved, and this is true. If you keep all your worries to yourself, you’ll just become more and more stressed because you’re not getting any further ahead, you’re not getting any solutions, and you’re literally causing your stress levels (and blood pressure) to rise. None of that is helpful.
If you can find someone to talk to, whether it’s a friend or family member or someone from a specific support group like Embrace Grace, talking about what’s worrying you is always the best thing to do. You’ll feel relieved even if no one has any advice for you, but if you can get help from an objective outsider, that’s even better.
Take A Deep Breath
This is one of the best and easiest ways to calm down. Deep breathing helps the body get more oxygen and can be done in just two easy steps: First, take slow, deep breaths in through your nose until your lungs are full. Then, take slow, deep breaths out through your mouth. If you do this five to ten times, your stress will start to melt away.
There are actually a number of different breathing exercises you can do depending on what works best for you and what helps you de-stress the most. The one mentioned above is the simplest and the best one to get started with, though, and it might be the only one you need.
Meditation
When practiced regularly, meditation can help you manage stress in both the short and long term. There is a wide variety of meditation techniques to explore, each with its own special benefits.
Perhaps you’ll come up with a chant to repeat to yourself as you take long, deep breaths. Another option is to cultivate mindfulness or simply to be present for a while. Concentrate on your senses of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.
