One of the things that is most universal about humanity, is stress. No matter who you are, you have probably dealt with stress more than a few times. But how have you dealt with it? If you don’t have a plan in place for how you will act in a stressful situation, it will be harder to handle. Here are some great stress-busting techniques, so that you are ready for your next stressful situation.
A journal can help reduce stress. All it takes is a pen and paper and a few minutes to write down whatever is bothering you. Often just getting it out on paper puts things in a better perspective. Writing about our problems releases emotions that may otherwise be pent up, thus increasing our stress levels. Furthermore, seeing our problems on paper can sometimes allow us to see possible solutions to our problems.
In order to keep your stress level under control, try screaming into a pillow. This will do wonders for stress relief, as long as you do not do it enough to hurt your vocal chords. Screaming has a calming effect that can almost be euphoric for some people.
Minimizing your exposure to the daily news will actually relieve you of some inadvertent stress. Even if you don’t realize it, watching a war on television, skyrocketing prices at the supermarket or neighborhood crime rates can really wear on your psyche. Every once in a while, especially when your stress levels are high, turn on a comedy or music instead of the news.
One very effective way to reduce your stress level is to obtain a massage from a professional masseur. Stress can cause muscles to get tense and stay that way. Getting a great massage will not only relax your muscles, but it will also make you feel less stressed.
Sip on tea to help calm yourself. Chamomile tea is known for its calming effect, but there are also other teas that can calm you as well. Try a cup of passionflower, catnip, kava kava, or skullcap. Steep these herbs for about 10 minutes and you will get the full effects of their calming powers.
When it comes to dealing with stress, you should consider getting a pet. This is important because not only have pets been known to decrease your stress level but also the time that you spend caring and nurturing your pet will help to take your mind off of whatever it is that is causing your stress.
In order to deal with your stress, consider calling a free stress hotline. This is important because the counselors you will speak to are trained in how to help you manage your stress and are there for you. Sometimes you are not able to deal with everything on your own and need help.
A good tip that can help you keep your stress levels down is to start forgiving people that have wronged you in the past. Holding onto grudges will keep you feeling stressed out. Get rid of all that negativity and start letting the past go. It can help you out a lot.
One way to ensure that you are able to deal with stress in your life is to make sure that you get enough sleep. Without the proper amount of sleep, your body and mind are not fully able to recover and you will not be in the best shape for making decisions and dealing with possible stress causing situations.
Do not turn to alcohol to try and reduce stress. Alcohol may make you feel better for a short period of time, but it is actually a depressant. This means that you will move right past that good feeling and actually feel worse than you did before you began drinking.
The moment that you notice you are extremely stressed, check your body for any clenching that you may be doing. These can be in the back, shoulders, hands and jaw muscles. If you can figure out where your tension is located, you can make an effort to stretch those parts of the body when you start experiencing stress. Doing so relaxes your mind and body.
Use exercise as a form of stress relief. It will take your mind off of the things that are causing you stress and it will let your subconscious work toward the solutions to your stressors. After your have exercised you will be able to go back to the task at hand and handle it in a much better way.
Making sure you know ahead of time how you will handle a stressful situation can take the edge off, when you are put in that position. By using these tips to calm down, you begin to take control of your feelings, even if you think it’s impossible to control your environment.