Stress affects us in many ways. For some it is internal, and for others it projects outwards onto the people around us. Finding a way to deal with it and even reduce the amount of stress in our lives is important. This article will give lots of ideas and tips on doing just that.
A great way to help reduce your stress is to practice yoga. Yoga is the practice of bringing together your mind, body and soul. By practicing yoga, you will relax your mind and body, helping you to unwind and feel better about yourself and the world. All of this can be accomplished with a simple thirty minute yoga session.
A great tip that can help you keep your stress levels down is to pray. Praying can help you feel at ease. It’s also great because you can do it almost anywhere. Just a little bit of praying each day can go a long way in keeping your stress down.
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.
A great way to manage stress in your life is to console in a loved one. It is important to seek the guidance of those who know and love you the most. While they might not have a professional background in stress management, they know what is best for you.
If you are under a lot of stress, and it is affecting your mood, take the time to let those around you know that it isn’t their fault. A lot of the time a significant other, or a child, will think they are to blame for your stress. Make them aware of your stressful circumstances without giving them guilt over it, and work together as a constructive force.
If you eat foods that have a lot of carbohydrates, your body will release serotonin. This is your body’s natural relaxing chemical. So if you’re feeling stressed, munch on some crackers, pretzels, a bagel, or other snacks that have a lot of carbohydrates in them. This will help your body naturally relax itself.
Deep breathing is one of the easiest ways to help relieve stress and tension, and it’s pretty cheap too! You can do it practically anywhere and deep breathing exercises work fast to oxygenate the blood which gives your brain a boost of energy, so you not only lose stress but you gain momentum!
Find out and target what it is that is stressing you out. If it is just your job, then think about switching careers. If it is your family, then work on the issues you have with them. Really zone in on what it is that is causing your stress and then deal with the root of the problem.
If you have a lot of things to do, you are probably not taking the time to think. Therefore, you should slow your pace down. Take deep breaths in order to give yourself a better perspective on things. Don’t let yourself get rushed throughout the day, especially later on in the day to reduce the amount of anxiety and stress that you feel.
Stop smoking. Smoking is often a reaction to stress. When stressed people actively seek out chemicals and activities that they perceive as providing relief. Tobacco contains nicotine and it is a powerful addictive chemical. Smoking also keeps your hands occupied, something your mind sometimes pushes you to do when you are stressed.
If you suffer from chronic stress, one solution might be to look at reducing your caffeine intake. While caffeine can help with productivity, it can also make people jittery and irritable and cause sleep disorders. If you have a lot of caffeine throughout the day, try gradually reducing it to just one or two cups in the morning.
Don’t be tempted to use drugs, legal or otherwise. While it may seem the most natural thing in the world to turn to alcohol, cigarettes, or other drugs to reduce our stress levels, the truth of the matter is that these drugs only escalate our problems. They actually result in heightened stress levels, not reduced stress. We become oversensitized to the very things that are causing our stress in the first place.
If you are feeling overwhelmed with all that you need to get done, make sure you speak up to family members or friends who can help you. Many times these people are more than willing to help, they just need to know that you need them. Don’t try to be a superhero and do it all on your own.
Having a life free of stress is not going to be possible. But making smart choices that minimize stress and dealing with it properly when we do experience it, can make a world of difference in our health and our lives. Follow the tips here and change your life in a good way.