11 Easy Ways to Relax and Ease Stress
Stress is the body’s way of responding to a demanding situation. Emotional or physical strain can bring about stress. Sometimes, stress can be brought about by a joyous event, such as having a baby or getting a promotion at work. Stress brings about various physical changes such as elevated heart rate and emotional changes, for instance, anxiety and anger. Once in a while, it is good to be stressed as it is a way to keep out of harm’s way. However, very high-stress levels are not healthy. This article will discuss easy ways to relax and ease stress.
Affirm yourself
Be mindful that your day is about yourself. Most of the time, you might find that you are unnecessarily hard on yourself. Negative thoughts can increase the likelihood of anxiety and stress. Compile a list of positive “I” sentences and recite them to yourself every day. For instance, you could say, “I am beautiful” or “I am a winner.” Self-affirmation is crucial as it boosts your self-esteem and wards off any negative thoughts.
Exercise regularly
Not only is exercising good for your health, but it also lowers cortisol, the stress hormone. When you engage in high-impact activities, such as aerobics, you stimulate the production of endorphins. These are essentially feel-good hormones. Putting physical stress on your body will strengthen your muscles and release mental stress and tension. For optimum results, ensure you exercise regularly. Stress negatively affects your sleeping patterns. Regular exercise helps improve the quality of your sleep.
Set realistic goals
Setting goals that are too far-fetched will leave you in a bad headspace and feeling frustrated. Ensure your goals are manageable and can be achieved within a given amount of time. Break down your goals into smaller tasks that are easy to accomplish. At the end of every week and month, take a moment to evaluate your progress so far and assess where you need to make necessary changes. Accomplishing tasks will leave you feeling motivated and ready to commence the next job.
Prioritize self-care
Once in a while, you could treat yourself to a soothing spa and massage! Make sure you also take care of your skin with high-quality skin care products. You might find yourself in a situation where you forget to take care of yourself amid all the stress and anxiety. You ought to take a break and sit down to watch a funny movie. Ask yourself, when was the last time you had a good laugh? Ensure you take care of your appearance and put your best foot forward. You are less likely to feel stressed if you are self-confident.
Reduce caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine intake
Binge drinking or indulging in a massive mug of caffeine might seem like a quick fix to your stressful situation. On the contrary, caffeine is known to heighten the effects of stress, making you feel much worse. Imagine waking up with a hangover to find you are in the same predicament that caused you so much stress. Avoid consuming too much alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, most especially when you are stressed.
Be assertive
Take charge of the stressors that are within your control. Taking on more responsibilities than you can physically handle will have you feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Sometimes, people can take advantage of you because they know you cannot say no. Say no to situations you think can cause you stress or people who want to take advantage of you. We are only human, and we are limited in our abilities.
Avoid procrastination
If you want to avoid stress, you must learn how to do things at the right time. Avoid procrastination as time will catch up with you, and you will start scrambling to finish your work before the deadline. Create a to-do list and jot down any important meetings and events to avoid forgetting. A to-do list will help you become more organized and will actively help reduce your stress levels. Give yourself ample time to complete one task to avoid multitasking or switching from one task to another. Arrange lessons by order of urgency to ensure you do the most important tasks first.
Keep a pet
Having a pet such as a cat or a dog reduces loneliness, gives your life a purpose, and boosts the production of oxytocin, therefore reducing stress levels. Spending time with your pet will also increase your mood. A pet is a perfect companion to have around the house, especially if you live alone. Ensure that you choose a pet you can comfortably take care of, depending on your schedule.
Spend time with loved ones
One of the worst things you can do when stressed is to stay alone in a fight-or-flight mode. Spending time with friends and family will give you social support and a sense of belonging. Women are more likely to benefit from social interactions than men. Studies have shown that being part of a social support system leads to oxytocin, which is a stress-relieving hormone. Keeping in touch with loved ones reduces your risk of falling into depression and wards off suicidal thoughts.
Listen to music
Slow-paced music and classical music genres have a soothing effect on both the brain and body. By listening to these genres of music, you will notice that your heart rate is slowed down, and your blood pressure will stabilize. However, you do not have to listen to slow-paced music. Listening to your favorite genre of music is sure to bring your stress levels down. Studies reveal that nature music is very relaxing, hence why it is incorporated into many meditation tracks.
Keep a journal
It might be hard for you to open up about what you are feeling, or you might not have a support system during tough times. In this scenario, it would be best for you to jot down whatever you are feeling. Writing down your thoughts and feelings gives you a better understanding of yourself and helps you decide on the way forward.
